Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news

Guyana needs invasive There are sacred cows in Guyana surgery to survive DEAR EDITOR, In this election year, Guyana’s economy is like a very sick patient heading to the hospital. If not attended to immediately, the illness could be terminal. The country faces permanent decline in its main revenue earner because of a steep decline in the price of gold, the collapse of the sugar industry and a lower production of fruits, vegetables and poultry rearing. Some were due largely to floods, some of which were man-made by the reckless PPP regime that has neglected the concerns of the farmers for over a decade. With just over three months to go before elections on May 11, it would be political suicide for the minority PPP Government to undertake any serious action to restructure the economy. And the PPP attempt to reduce expenditure is an attempt to make the party appear responsible in this election year so that it can be re-elected. But nothing less than invasive surgery is required to rejuvenate the sick economy and that can only be achieved with a new fiveyear mandate for the opposition. The AFC with the full support of APNU must be complimented for bringing the no-confidence motion against the dictatorial and

uncivil PPP minority government. It was the responsible thing to do. But the people including supporters of the PPP could not understand the Government’s response to prorogue Parliament and rule by decree, which in essence is dictatorship. It could be the result of uncertainty and fear by the PPP cabal in the face of an unexpected challenge by an AFC/APNU coalition. In terms of pure political strategy, the combined opposition has been thinking very clearly. The best option was to force the PPP regime to call the elections sooner rather than later because the longer the PPP remains in office under these conditions, the worse it will be for the opposition. With revenue dropping due to a reduction in exports and an increase in imports, the Finance Minister will continue to take money from the foreign reserves as he has done during the past three years to make up for the shortfall in revenue. Should the combined opposition win the election on May 11, they will not only end up with a sick economy, a bankrupt country, but also a Guyana that is in coma and in urgent need for invasive surgery to survive. On this issue, the combined opposition has a head-start with ther attempt

to form an AFC/APNU coalition. But the two parties cannot stop there. They must present their own ideas and plans for preventing the economy from further collapse, how to curb crime, reduce corruption and create jobs if they want to win the undecided vote. They have an excellent chance to claim the high ground, but must move with expedition to form the coalition and be relentless in their attacks on the PPP. The main issue is foreign exchange reserves which the Finance Minister admitted has been reduced for the past three years to compensate for losses in exports. With reduced gold prices and lower production in sugar, poultry, fruits and vegetables, what other sources of foreign earnings will country have? What does Guyana have to sell on the global market besides rice, sugar and gold? Aluminum would have provided a lifeline but like sugar and gold, its production has reduced under the PPP regime. The PPP regime has ruined those sectors. During the last 15 years of the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime, Guyana imports far more than it exports which often requires more foreign exchange than it earns. Dr. Asquith Rose, Chandra Deolall, Dr. Merle Spenser-Marks

Kudos for this manager DEAR EDITOR, The treatment meted out to me as an old age pensioner at the Anna Regina branch of Republic Bank was far from good and most unsatisfactory. Better needs to be done especially to the elderly. After discussing the purpose for being there with a male employee, he advised me that I would have to join the line and go to the teller. I complied. Some 30 odd customers were already in front of me and I had to keep standing. On reaching the teller, it was beyond my understanding why she referred me back to the same section that sent me there. I

expressed my disgust to the unbearable pushing around with a request to see the Manager. It so happened that the Manager was nearby and with her intervention I was not advised to join the line but to have a seat. The same person from whom the advice was given to join the line could have seen me standing and it would have been only proper for him to indicate to me that I was at the wrong place. The Manager was very helpful with my business much to my appreciation for her kind action in dealing with the matter. Baliram Persaud

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the pertinent points raised by Ralph Seeram in his “From the Diaspora” column (KN, Feb 1, 2015) examining the issues surrounding the promotion of the infamous Leonora “torture cops”. It is difficult to assign degrees of importance to the many pressing concerns highlighted by Mr Seeram but two of his observations that struck a personal chord were, “If that then 15-year-old, yes he was only 15-years-old, was the son of President Donald Ramotar, or the son of any Cabinet Member, son of Dr Roger Luncheon, son of PSC Chairman Omesh Persaud, son of Commissioner of Police Ag. Seelall Persaud or the son of any of the PPP big wigs, do you think these two inhuman beings for

policemen would have still been in the force, much less to receive promotion?” and “The tortured teenager came from a poor family from the countryside, got no connections, so no one cared…”. I consider another disturbing report carried in the same edition of KN captioned “Girl, 15, accuses prominent official’s son of rape”. This article describes the recidivism displayed by an alleged serial rapist and woman-abuser whose father is a “political candidate” and is presumably another wellconnected “big wig”. The article relates the absurdity that while being in the company of his father the teen’s alleged assailant was briefly detained, but it is unclear whether he will be charged.

I transpose Mr Seeram’s curiosity here and ponder what if it was the daughter of President Ramotar, or Ministers Priya Manickchand, or Frank Anthony in the shoes of this hapless child? Would the Guyana Police Force (or is it Service these days?) be as lenient with a perpetrator accused by one of these Government officials? Editor, I have seen time and time again evidence to suggest that different standard operating procedures are employed for the privileged versus the ordinary in our society. In the meantime our poor 15-year-old children are being battered by State institutions, their officials and their untouchable family members. George Bulkan

Straddling the racial divide DEAR EDITOR, First of all I am a Guyanese and I love this country. I have lived abroad for very many years, but cannot ever forget Guyana and its people whom I love dearly. I started to visit Guyana about seven years ago on a regular basis, and on every occasion since then, I have found a steady decline and degeneration of the people, especially the African Guyanese. They have been marginalized and humiliated by the government and Administration. There is no doubt, and it is clear to see that the present PPP government blames the African Guyanese for the faults of Burnham and his government. I knew Burnham and Jagan and the other militants and even the President who

gave me words of encouragement on my Trade Union struggle. I respect him. I exist because of the two races and I love both. I boast of the magnificent civilization of both Africa and India long before the Europeans and Europe attained civilization. Both Africa and India made my existence possible and I am a son of both. My grandmother taught me about India and my grandfather about Africa. In the European world, both Africans and East Indians are black people. I can write and let my heart speak more but the tears keep coming and I seem to have lost my way because of the tears. One thing for certain, Beware of the Chinese. The PPP Government is

treading a dangerous path. Guyana could end up being a colony of China. The Chinese are an insidious force in their quest to colonise former colonies in their competition with the U.S.A and European Union. The PPP, regrettably, is blindly helping them to colonise Guyana. The East Indian and all others will be squeezed out of business and China will control the political economy of Guyana. May God Bless All Guyanese Maurice Allen

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

AML Bill must be top priority for next Parliament - US diplomat By Zena Henry The local United States (US) Embassy has offered a timely reminder that foreignassociated financial transactions within the country can become even more difficult if Guyana does not finalise the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. The Embassy’s most senior official, Chargé d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt, has thus reiterated the position of the United States in encouraging Guyana to have the issue urgently addressed. “The next parliament formed (after) May 11 (General Elections) absolutely must make passage of the Anti-money Laundering Bill a top priority,” the diplomat emphasised. For more than two years the government and the combined opposition have been haggling in Parliament over amendments of the Bill’s contents and the condition for its passage. There are two overseeing bodies; the regional arm, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and international arm, Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The regional body has already warned its members against Guyana’s nonpassage of the Bill and encouraged added counter measures to be put in place when conducting financial transactions here. The international body has done a review on the matter but gave the country time to work out its issues to have the Bill made into law. Hunt told Kaieteur News

US Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt during an interview last week that there are serious economic ramifications for Guyana if the legislation is not passed. “The US does not wish to see a situation in which international action is necessary that would restrict Guyanese financial flows further.” The Chargé d’Affaires said that the US continues to urge all parties that as soon as the new parliament convenes after elections, to have the Anti-money Laundering Bill addressed expeditiously. This is to ensure that when Guyana is reviewed again by the Financial Action Task Force, the government will be able to present a Bill that fully conforms to all the i n t e r n a t i o n a l recommendations. It was related that the US conforms to the recommendations of both the CFATF and FATF. Hunt said that FATF when it reviews any country will look to see if international standards are being met. If these standards are not found in place, they

will give the country an opportunity to take the necessary corrective action; which is where Guyana is now. After reviewing Guyana, FATF highlighted a number of areas that have to be addressed for the passage of the internationally-required legislation. Guyana’s timeframe for this to occur was given in July of last year, when the government’s chief spokesperson announced that the country was given four more months to work on the Bill before its review. Hunt said however, that when FATF again sits to review Guyana and finds that sufficient progress has not been made to meet those i n t e r n a t i o n a l recommendations, they will then recommend to the global financial community to take additional steps to protect their financial systems from threats that may emanate out of Guyana. “That in practical terms would mean that US banking institutions, like Western Union, Money Gram and other financial agencies that deal with the transfer of money overseas, will need to do additional scrutiny on those attempting to send

money to and from Guyana.” It also means that additional cost and time will be involved, posing a significant problem to the Guyanese economy, Hunt posited. He warned that this scenario will be the outcome globally and not just with the United States. “The recommendation will go out to all countries around the world that deal with the Guyanese financial system. They too would place similar additional scrutiny.” Hunt reminded that the Caribbean arm has already instructed its members against Guyana’s financial system, and that includes the US, which follows the regional body’s recommendations. In some cases Guyana has already started to experience delays and additional costs in financial transactions. This Hunt attributed to the regional arm’s advice. “If FATF were to also move in the same direction of CFATF you could expect that those times and cost could increase further and they would apply not only to those countries of CFATF, but to the global financial community as a whole.” CFATF is the first point of review in the international

process of having the Bill passed. The body makes determinations in relation to countries in the region. They will then forward countries’ cases to the global body if they are not in conformity with regulations. The Bill in question seeks to close avenues that allow for the illegal transfer of unregistered funds between countries. These funds could be used for the wrong purposes, especially to finance terrorist actions, hence the global community’s moves to have measures within its membership that prevent such financial movements. However, the Guyanese Parliament, now prorogued, had extreme difficulty in the passage of the Bill. Not only did the foreign bodies have difficulty with identified deficiencies within the Bill, but the local opposition parties were also uncomfortable with its contents. The opposition was not only dissatisfied that they had little to no say in the Bill’s amendments, but claimed that there existed flaws that needed to be addressed. Of particular interest was a section highlighted by former Presidential Advisor

and Financial Analyst Ramon Gaskin who, in 2013, had highlighted certain powers to the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General which allowed them to blacklist entities based merely on “reasonable grounds” without due process. They also had the power to reverse the process. The opposition also used the Bill’s passage to demand the approval of certain entities required by law, but were not made operational by the government. A Cabinet-approved team which included Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall went to Miami, Florida, late last year to plead Guyana’s case before representatives of CFATF and FATF. He said that Guyana would “surely” be blacklisted. The Government Information Agency however, stated in October of last year that the country was once again able to avoid being blacklisted. It said that the country remained subject to “ongoing process in improving compliance”. However, with Parliament currently prorogued and elections looming, the Bill’s passage is on hold.

CJ to rule on legal challenge over... (From page 3) within his constitutional right in spending the sums Attorney General Anil Nandlall had maintained that the Finance Minister was well within his legal boundaries to spend, since he followed procedures outlined

in Article 218 of the Constitution. He said that assuming the court had jurisdiction to grant the order, it ought not to be granted, since particularly Article 218:3 of the Constitution allows for Minister of Finance to lay

a statement of excess in the parliament after expending monies for which no appropriation has been made in the appropriation act of any given year. However, Attorney–at– Law, Basil Williams, argued that there is no law or statute which makes provisions for any Government or Minister of Government to spend monies which were unapproved by the National Assembly. On Monday, after submitting their final arguments, the

lawyers told reporters that they are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the case since the CJ has indicated that notices will be sent shortly providing them with information when he will be in a position to rule. “I anticipate that it should not be long from now, since the Chief Justice has indicated this is a matter of national importance and he will do everything to ensure he renders a decision as early as possible,” Nandlall said.

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Arrest warrant draft for Argentine president found at dead prosecutor’s home Reuters) - The draft of an arrest warrant for Argentine President Cristina Fernández was found at the home of a prosecutor who was investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing the lead investigator. Prosecutor Alberto Nisman had drafted a war r a n t t h a t a c c u s e d Fernández of trying to shield Iranian officials from responsibility in the bombing, according to the report. Nisman died on Jan. 18, a day before he was due to appear in Congress over his claims that Fernandez conspired to derail his investigation.

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

LaRocque: Critical role for ICT in CARICOM Trinidad Guardian - ICT is the new frontier for regional integration, CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque said Monday as he underscored the critical role of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in the integration architecture. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the CTU’s 25th anniversary conference and ICT week at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, LaRocque said ICT was a “crucial element in not only resolving our present challenges, but also in building the platform for our growth and development.” He added: “The CTU,

therefore, has a critical role to play in the integration architecture. Working together with Member States and your partner institutions, there is an opportunity to make a difference and substantially improve the lives of the people of the community.” LaRocque said creation of a single ICT space is at the heart of CARICOM’s FiveYear Strategic Plan, 2015-2019 which was approved by the Heads of Government last July. He said the plan identifies technological resilience as one of eight strategic priorities. The Secretary-General

said there will have to be an adjustment in CARICOM’s methods of operation since the plan requires an increased level of co-ordination and collaboration among member states, institutions and the CARICOM Secretariat. “The implementation of the plan will require the most efficient and effective use of all the region’s resources. It has always been my view that the specialized institutions established by this community, of which the CTU is one, must use their unique skills to serve a common purpose— namely the integration of our region to improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.

Venezuela becoming ‘laughing stock’, ex-Chavez economic guru says CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s economic failings are turning it into the “laughing-stock” of Latin America, according to late president Hugo Chavez’s top economic planner. Former Finance and Planning Minister Jorge Giordani, who was sacked in mid-2014 by Chavez’s successor, Nicolas Maduro, said in an interview this week that reforms in the South American OPEC nation are years overdue. “We should have taken measures from Oct. 7, 2012,” Giordani told local website notitimes.com, referring to the date of Chavez’s last presidential election victory. Chavez, who was president for 14 years, died of cancer in 2013. “In truth, we are almost the laughing stock of Latin America,” Giordani, 75, said. “If the situation is bad, if the thermometer is at 40 degrees, there are those who blame the thermometer ... We need to

acknowledge the crisis, comrades.” Venezuela’s ailing economy is Maduro’s No. 1 problem. The economy is in recession, inflation is the highest in the Americas, revenues have been cut by half due to the fall in oil prices, and there are shortages of basic products. Giordani, a Marxist economist nicknamed “the Monk” for his austere lifestyle, was one of Chavez’s closest advisers and helped him create Venezuela’s state-led economic system. Foes lampooned him as a Soviet-era dinosaur lost in utopian visions and, indeed, still blame him for Venezuela’s current problems. Maduro sacked him from his post as planning minister in mid-2014, after which Giordani publicly criticized the president for lack of leadership and squandering Chavez’s legacy. “Listen, let’s stop import-

ing foods, let’s produce,” he added in the interview, referring to Venezuela’s oil dependency and shortages of basic products. “Stop messing with things that work, it’s as if we have the Midas touch in reverse,” he added, referring to the mythological King Midas whose touch turned everything to gold. Giordani also criticized corruption, government bureaucracy, spending profligacy, which he called “fiscal nymphomania”, and the “crass mistake” of not publishing central bank data on time. However, “of course we must defend the revolutionary government ... and the construction of socialism,” he added, in the face of “fascist” threats from Venezuela’s domestic opponents and the United States. Some government supporters now call Giordani a traitor.

Page 7

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 9

SELF-INFLICTED OPPRESSION Politics in Guyana is extremely oppressive. This is why I prefer living, simply living. No matter the hour or the season, no matter the degree of deprivation or the deluge of abundance, life is full of happy moments, of good things, of fun or laughter, of passions, of beauty and joy. Instead of harnessing these gems, we ritually indulge in the negativity that abounds around us. Negativity is the new philosophy. We indulge in it as if our very lives are defined by the way we react to it. Life was made to be lived, not endured. Our lives have always been more than our politics. But these days it seems as if politics is all that life is about. There is little time for fun; little time to see the

beauty that is all around; little time to enjoy each other’s company; little time for laughter and too little time for play. Guyanese have become so preoccupied with what one former foreign minister described as our ‘lowintensity civil war’ that we have refused to live. Instead we spend most of our days trying to highlight the shortcomings of our political nemeses. In so doing, we oppress ourselves. Our governments can be oppressive. But we are our own oppressors; our own worst enemies. Hardly a day goes by that, if we are a supporter of the opposition, we do not find an opportunity to cast a critical eye on the government, to delight in their misfortune and to deceive

ourselves into believing that things could not be as bad as they are. If on the other hand, we are a supporter of the government, then we do as much as we can to convince ourselves that the opposition is obstructionist, powerdrunk and bent on no good. When you see these reactions, you are forced to ask yourself whether you really are the master of your own political views or if instead it is you who are being controlled by your political beliefs. One of the sad realities of self-inflicted oppression is the pleasure that some find in the misfortune of others. Right now there are some journalists who are making merry over the fact that a pregnant women and her

Dem boys seh...

De life of de gay bachelor Who seh Rohee stupid better change dem mouth. De man smart suh till he lead dem reporters up a gum tree. After Bud Mangal resign from Gee Com, dem had to get a replacement. People start fuh talk how is Boodoo who been in Gee Com as Chief Elections Officer and who nearly tek couple votes and give de Pee Pee Pee a majority. Dem boys seh that if Boodoo did get through people woulda never recognise Guyana, because if de party ain’t win a majority and it coulda do so much, imagine what woulda happen if it did win. Anyhow, dem boys ask Rohee if Boodoo going back. He seh nah. Then dem ask he if Bibi going and he seh nah. Then he use he brains and as a road man he really got some

brains. He tell de people that de party gun select de person later in de week. This time de party done select de person. Rohee believe that he was keeping a secret. Well it ain’t matter no more except that de commissioner find a way to mek even more money. He represent Jagdeo, he represent Ashni, and he represent de whole country. Now he representing de Pee Pee Pee, de party that want to win de elections; de party that had a leader who always think that he was a prince but who some people seh was a queen. One day, somebody force he to ask a princess to marry she and she seh “Yes.” But things didn’t work out suh he mek she run. And then he live happily

ever after. He go out when he want, lef de country when he want, go to strip bars and play wid big breast women. He drink coconut water like rain water, he had no woman to bitch in he ears. He never had to pay child support until recently and he use to walk around and blow out he guts when he want and especially when some of he men friends deh round. No woman could boast how she had he under control, even when she had man wid he because he didn’t care. Some people seh that he had wid she too. Dem boys seh that de man got tons of money in de bank, under de mattress, and some bury in he yard. De man still happy. Talk half and always think about de gay bachelor.

beau are before the courts on charges of possession of narcotics. The indignity of two persons having to appear before the courts elicits a sadistic pleasure in others, just as it does for that Guyanese in America who has been sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Why should the misfortune of others make us so happy? Why should those accused of running afoul of the law make us so happy? There used to be a time when we had very little, yet did so much with that little. There used to be a time when you stood in line all day for things that you now can

easily afford to buy in any supermarket. And despite having to stand in line back then, people had time to poke a little fun at the authorities, to share a joke, to laugh and tease each other. Deprivation did not mean that life could not be enjoyed. Today there is so much available. You would think that with so much at their disposal, people would be happier and contented. But it is quite the opposite, because despite not having the deprivations of the past, people create their own oppression, they imagine themselves as victims. They allow themselves to be controlled

by their own politics rather than simply living. People no longer walk in the rain. They are afraid of catching a cold. In fact they hardly go for strolls. They no longer look through their windows and speak to their neighbours. The children now play by remote control. People still laugh, but more at each other rather than with each other. People do not live anymore. They exist. It is a sad way to live your life.

Trial starts for C’tyne duo charged with teen’s murder The trial of 39-year-old Dhanraj Persaud called ‘Chris’ and 32-year-old Yogeshwar Dhaniram called ‘Sham’, ‘Shem’ and ‘Jo Jo,’ both of Number 70 Village, began yesterday in the Berbice High Court. The two men are accused of killing 17year-old Sasenarine Persaud of Number 70 Village on April 29, 2012. The men are on trial before Justice

Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury. The state’s case is being presented by Judith Gildharie-Mursaline. Representing Yogeshwar Dhaniram is Kim Kyte-John while appearing for Dhanraj Persaud is Raymond Alli. However when the matter was called and after the indictment was read and the jury was sworn the matter was adjourned to February 11 for continuation.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Putinesque villains and Berlusconi-style clowns I took that description from the farewell editorial of the outgoing editor of The Economist, the British weekly newspaper. He was reflecting on his years as editor and the politicians he had to put on the front page, like those who are Putinesque villains and Berlusconi- style clowns. I borrowed the phrase because it was relevant to my world as a Guyanese columnist. People come up to you all the time with the saddest of stories, and ninety-nine percent of those complaints are connected to the cruel behaviour of Putinesque political mandarins and circus clowns who occupy the seat of government. I get a daily dose of; “Mr.

Kissoon yuh gat to reply to dem jokers and the stupidy things deh seh.” It never stops. It goes on and on. The average man and woman in the street think that the PPP leaders are clowns that make them laugh all the time. They find the leaders of the PPP hilarious. People come up to me all the time, broad smiles on their faces, and would say; “Freddie duh maan Rohee is a joker, you hear wuh he seh,” “Freddie, maan I had to really laugh at wuh duh maan Hydar Ally write de other day.” So I would go and check these things and really, this Government consists of Putinesque villains and Berlusconi-type clowns. I do not read what the PPP mandarin Hydar Ally writes.

The average citizen finds him funny with his unbelievable description of the PPP being one of the greatest groups of rulers in the world. People laugh at Clement Rohee every day in this country, and if Donald Ramotar is serious about being reelected, he has to immediately issue an edict against Rohee to stop those weekly press conferences. They are a weekly embarrassment to the nationality of a people named Guyanese. One look at Rohee’s Berlusconi-type replies to the reporters’ questions and you are bound to dismiss the PPP. No political party in government should allow itself to be so laughed at by a nation. There is hardly a moment at those press conferences when you can take Rohee seriously. Every reply brings out laughter in the viewer. I don’t know where to begin to offer examples of Rohee’s hilarity. Charles Ramson is out

of this world. As Commissioner of Information, Mr. Ramson has been accused by the Transparency Institute of Guyana of refusing correspondence, if the face of the envelope does not carry the proper wording of the way he should be addressed. Two Ministers were acting as President and Prime Minister respectively, and the sirens of their escort cars were blazing loudly, even on old dirt roads in the countryside of Mahaicony. The satirical column in this newspaper, “Dem Boys Seh” exposed this joke for the entire Guyanese population in and out of the country to read. I could understand the feeling of the outgoing editor of The Economist. He runs a newspaper and he has no choice - he has to feature Putinesque villains and Berlusconi-style clowns on his front page. Do I have a choice as a commentator? Why should I

write about Neil Kumar, the Director of Sport, informing the public through a press conference that the Colgrain Swimming Pool cannot be opened up to the general public because people have to understand that they have to bathe first before they use the pool. I had better things to write on that day, but even my colleagues at Kaieteur News were laughing and insisted that I do a column on Kumar’s words. So I guess the choice isn’t there. You have to write about politicians that are big, bad and powerful, and their facetious acolytes. And it goes on. There is a motion to upturn the constitutional term limits for the presidency. Political madness never ends in Guyana and it occupies the front page. If a judge can strike out parts of a constitution then obviously, elected politicians who vote in a Parliament are not the ultimate framers of a constitution. I don’t know

Frederick Kissoon where this motion will go in the court, but I know commonsense can guide any human being in this particular situation. This motion says that the electorate is denied their democratic right to elect a person they want. I would think that the section of the constitution that gives the President the authority to prorogue the parliament without a vote is also a denial of the right of the electorate. And isn’t the electorate denied their right by the constitution, in that the constitution prevents the electorate from voting a coalition government into power?

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

GPL to review policies for hiring contractors For the procurement of a consultancy firm, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce received a single bid to conduct a review of Guyana Power and Light (GPL)’s policies for hiring contractors and the consumer security deposit requirements. That bid and two other sets were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Main and Urquhart Streets.

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) received bids for the supply and delivery of one new 4x4 motor vehicle.

The Education Ministry received bids for the prequalification for provision of consultancy services. The services include 10 lots.

Page 11

Do you recognise this man? This man is wanted by police for burglarising a city church in Georgetown. Despite the not so clear image, law enforcement officials are hoping that it would enable persons to provide information as to his identity and/ or whereabouts. Contact can be made with the Ruimveldt Police Station on telephone numbers 225-2683, 226-9122 or 671-2728

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

AFC pickets GGMC over $3B loan to Housing Authority …taxpayers to face burden of the repayment process – Party member

AFC protesters outside the GGMC Head Office yesterday.

Members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) yesterday protested outside the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)’s Brickdam, Georgetown offices over the recentlyapproved $3 billion-dollar loan to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). Fueling the controversy, is the fact that the $3B used by the Commission was not approved by Parliament and acquired through the Consolidated Fund, as is the

procedure for state agencies like GGMC. The Commission had indicated, last Thursday, via a joint statement with the Housing Authority, that a $3B Loan Agreement was signed. Those present at yesterday’s demonstration were in consensus that the act was a clear violation of the policies which govern the agency. Since signing the Loan Agreement, GGMC has come under intense criticism from members of the Opposition.

Member of Parliament and leader of A Partnership for National Unity, David Granger, recently expressed that approval was not only out of order but outside the law. Y e s t e r d a y ’ s demonstration saw participants picketing with placards reading “First it was CLICO, now it is GGMC”, “GGMC is operating a slush fund for the PPP”, “Stop lending the people’s money to the PPP” and “GGMC cannot pay their own workers but lending the PPP 3 billion

dollars.” Executive member of the AFC, Neilson McKenzie, called the Commission’s approval of the $3B loan an act of “blatant hypocrisy”, especially coming off the recent industrial action by GGMC workers. For several weeks GGMC employees picketed the Commission, demanding approval for negotiations for salary and wages increases. An agreement was recently met, with strikes being called off. McKenzie further stated that his party feels strongly that the $3B loan should be rescinded as the act was a “cleverly designed scheme to support the PPP (People’s Progressive Party) in the

ignominious pursuit of foul play”. “(It is absurd) to think that the GGMC just recently announced that they could not pay their workers a livable wage”, said the AFC executive member, “and this same entity has determined very quickly that they have the money to lend PPP propaganda and contribute to the electoral machinery.” Meanwhile, social activist Frederick Kissoon compared the Commission’s loan approval to that of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL)’s acquisition of funds to facilitate the building of the Marriott Hotel. Kissoon said that in both instances, NICIL and GGMC bypassed the necessary legal procedure - that is, seeking approval from Parliament to access the Consolidated Fund - to conduct their respective expenditures. Instead, he explained, the

money was taken, in the case of GGMC, directly from the Commission to the Housing Ministry, while Parliament is under prorogation, thus making the $3B loan unconstitutional. To that effect, Kissoon further stated that stakeholders and the opposition parties should fight against such action, as he described it as an “election maneuver that is based on illegality.” In the end, such unconstitutional action, according to Ivan Bentham of the AFC’s Georgetown Committee, will be a burden for taxpayers whom he said will face the bulk of the repayment process. “People should worry, because it is taxpayers’ money that is being used to conduct the unconstitutional transaction,” Bentham stressed “and taxpayers will be burdened with repayment.”

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 13

One bludgeoned to death, two in hospital following Mahaica land dispute By Dale Andrews A 25-year-old Chartered Accountant was brutally killed during a bitter dispute over a piece of land in the Mahaica Creek area yesterday afternoon. Suresh Nandkishore called ‘Ravo’ was reportedly beaten to death by members of the neighbouring Dharamdat family, with whom his family has a longstanding dispute over a few acres of rice land at a place called Handsome Tree His father Bhopaul Nandkishore and his older brother Parmanand, both sustained injuries while at least two members of the opposing family, Sukhdeo Dharamdat and his son, received treatment for injuries they sustained during the melee. Several villagers were alerted to the tragedy and they converged on the scene only to find the young man lying motionless on the ground with his head covered with blood, while his father, who has an injured foot, lay a few feet away. Yesterday’s incident came as no surprise to villagers who informed that it was brewing for awhile, ever since the court ruled in favour of the Nandkishores in the land dispute. In fact they confirmed that the family had been threatened, causing them to seek the assistance of the police at the Mahaica Police Station. According to reports, the Nandkishores were in the process of erecting a fence on the disputed property when a heated argument erupted between them and the other family, which led to a fight. Parmanand Nandkishore told this newspaper that he had to play dead to save his

DEAD: Suresh Nandkishore life. He explained that when he, his father and brother went to the land yesterday, they hadn’t the slightest idea that they would have been attacked, since the neighbour, Dharamdat, with whom they have the dispute, came there too and appeared to have no objection. But Dharamdat returned with his two sons, one of whom was armed with a cutlass. According to Parmanand Nandkishore, the men picked up two of the posts that were meant for the fence and began lashing them about their bodies. He said that his brother Suresh tried to walk away, but was cornered and dealt several lashes to his head which cracked open his skull, killing him almost instantly. He said that he too was badly injured and could not get away quickly. “Dis man tell he sons dem that they can’t lef we alive

because dey gun go to jail,” Parmanand Nandkishore told Kaieteur News. He said that he tried to run away but the men attacked him again, this time beating him so badly that he fell to the ground. “I play dead. Imagine me had to bear me pain jus fuh save me father and me brother. Although me deh lie down, dis man still ah lash me,” he said. The young man however managed to see when they threw his father into a nearby trench and tried to drown him. “Me father was unconscious in de trench,” he added. But one of Dharamdat’s sons told Kaieteur News that it was they who were attacked and had to defend themselves. He said that it was the Nandkishores who attacked his father, chopping him to the face. “We had to fight back,” the detainee said. Parmanand Nandkishore could not say how Dharamdat received the injury to his face.

Dharamdat had turned up at the GPHC with a gaping wound to his face, claiming that he was chopped. “I surprise dat he say he get chop. Me never see any chop pon he. Me brother dead and me father was unconscious in de trench, so I was the only one who had to play dead. So how me alone gon fight dem fuh get fuh chop he?” Parmanand Nandkishore said. The dead man’s mother Gourie Nandkishore confirmed that her son was killed over the plot of land that the neighbour was fighting them for. Struggling to hold back tears, the woman said that her family holds the lease for a 75acre plot of land not too far from their home. She said that the Dharamdats tried to cheat them out of 25 acres of the said land, and this led to the matter going to court, even after the Lands and Surveys department had intervened in their favour. “When we went to court, the court said that the land belong to we,” she said. This happened a few months ago and since then things started to escalate. She said that following the court ruling, the neighbour had threatened her. “He tell me when I come with the lease the day, that he gone end me family. He say he go kill me husband and me two sons,” the woman stated. She said that the threat was reported to the police who warned the neighbour to keep his distance and not to interfere with the courtappointed owners of the land. But the warning appeared to have been disregarded, since Dharamdat continued to trespass on the

land. Mrs. Nandkishore explained that since her husband and her sons were busy with their rice plot, they did not have time to go to the police to report the violation of the warning. Since they had left some cattle on the disputed land to graze, the Nandkishores, using the lull in their rice cultivation activities, went to the land to erect a fence yesterday. According to Mrs. Nandkishore, they had informed the police of their intended activity and were promised assistance in the form of security, in the event that the neighbour thought of making good on his threat. She was a bit apprehensive when her husband and her sons insisted on going to the land by themselves without waiting for the promised assistance from the police. Nevertheless they left and went to the land. “Me ain’t know what happen; all I know is one of me sons come over back and tell me call a taxi, that how,

‘awe get bad beat up and chop up.’ And den he say, ‘mommy Ravo dead and me hustle fuh save me life’,” Mrs. Nandkishore recalled. She said that at first she did not believe her son, but reality stepped in when she saw a number of villagers running towards the disputed land. She said she enquired from her son, who was bleeding from wounds to his face, where his father was, and was told that her husband was left lying on the said plot of land, badly injured. “Me husband got a bad foot, so after de man and he two sons attack, me husband can’t do nothing,” she explained. Mrs. Nandkishore eventually summoned the courage to go on the scene where her worst fears were confirmed - her son was indeed dead. “My son was a chartered accountant. One year now he looking for a job,” she said. Police have detained one man and are awaiting word from doctors before they can move forward with interviewing the injured.

Foreigner charged, fined for illegal entry to Guyana A 49-year-old foreign national was yesterday charged and fined for entering and leaving the shores of Guyana, without the consent of the relevant immigrant authority. It is alleged that on January 27, last, Manuel Bediaat entered Guyana by sea and left without going through necessary immigration checks. Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who heard the case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, explained through a Spanish translator, that the consequence for his actions would be a fine or an alternative six months imprisonment. The man admitted his guilt and was fined $30,000. It is still unclear as to where he came from, and the purpose for which he came.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Over $200M owed to nine private cane-farming societies - “Sugar used to be a sweet business. Now, it is just bitter. Government got you crying bitter, bitter tears for your money”- private farmer

Four of the private cane farmers during the protest yesterday Private cane farmers who usually supply the Wales Sugar Estate with almost 50 percent of its needed cane are “angry” with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). They claim to be owed over $200M for two sets of cane they supplied in 2014. Approximately 90 cane farmers belonging to the nine private cane-farming societies in the West Demerara area, congregated around 09: 00hrs at the gates of the Wales Sugar Estate to demonstrate their frustration with the sugar company’s apparent lack of “competence and utter disrespect” extended to them. “No money, no cane,” they continually repeated.

One private cane farmer, Rawle Payne, related that there are a total of nine cane farming societies in that area which would normally supply the Wales Estate with the cane it requires annually. He related that within the nine farming societies, La Retraite is the largest with over 200 farmers. Other private cane farming societies include; Free and Easy, Goed Intent and Sisters Cane Farming Society. He explained that one small crop was delivered last February and a larger amount in October, but they are yet to be paid. “They owe all the farmers. I am small, so they owe me $200,000!” His colleague, Richard Toney, also articulated that

Mash activities in full... (From page 17) second with “Praises”. St. Agnes Primary was given third position with “We Mashramani as one”. As they were the only school to perform in the masquerade category, North Georgetown Primary was automatically declared winner with their entry of “City flouncers”. First place winners for each category will represent Georgetown in the competition slated for February 12 to 13 at the National Cultural Centre.

he was disgusted at the manner in which they are being treated by the sugar company. For him, the issue was not only regarding the late payment but also the broken promises to help private farmers with fertilizers. “On to now we ain’t getting no fertilizer, so the cane could come back... so the issue is more than payment. It is fertilizers. And we have to get paid so we can get back into the field. We desperately need some help to cushion the fall, because sugar is costing us. Sugar used to be a sweet business. Now, it is just bitter. Government got you crying bitter, bitter tears for your money,” Toney said. Devon George, who was anxious to share his view with

The Guyana Sugar Corporation, Wales Estate Kaieteur News, asserted that his problem is also regarding the delay in millions in payments, and how it works out to carry out the basic operations of his farm. “We cannot break even because the overhead costs are more than we are receiving. We are asking for assistance with the fertilizers and what is more depressing is that for the past couple of years we never get paid on time. When we go to the bank with the cheque they give us, sometimes you hear the

money is not there. It is frustrating and we are fed up. They collect our cane and is like to hell with we now. And with election coming up, we suspect we not going to get pay till after the madness,” George said. He added, “They have no regard for us. We want our money GuySuCo. Where is our money? You get $6B from Parliament, but is like it just stuck at the top, because it don’t trickle down to us. You know it is a lot of grass in your fields and you will want to lean

on us again. Give us our money or you get no cane.” Wayne Roberts, another private farmer told this newspaper that GuySuCo’s CEO Dr. Rajendra Singh was expected to meet with them yesterday, but if they did not receive any favourable response by this morning, industrial action will be continued. He said that an official from the Wales Estate had spoken with them and promised to help mitigate the matter.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Strategic measures being put in place to further slash malaria cases – Malaria Director Although the Ministry of Health is yet to release official data pertaining to the number of malaria cases that were recorded last year, Director of Vector Control Services within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Reyaud Rahman, is adamant that the data thus far reveal a more than 60 per cent drop in cases last year. The previous year saw the Ministry recording some 30,000 cases. Following analysis and confirmation of the actual data by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, the cases that were recorded last year, will be publicised, Dr. Rahman noted. “People will be able to see the actual numbers instead of just hearing me say we have made a significant impact. But I can safely say we have cut malaria by at least 60 per cent.” This he attributed to the great deal of work that has been employed by those within the Vector Control Unit

coupled with the reduced mining activity when the gold price dipped last year. And in the quest to further reduce the numbers, Dr. Rahman, during an interview with this publication, said that tactical interventions have been streamlined. These, according to him, will include the setting up of facilities at strategic points throughout the country, particularly in interior locations where there are few to no health facilities. “These are locations where we know that people will have to pass through,” said Dr. Rahman as he explained that the planned facilities will have on site Vector Control workers who can take blood smears and test these samples to ascertain whether they have the disease. Aside from the interior locations, Dr. Rahman said that efforts will be made to set up such facilities at the Ogle

Airport where miners and others travelling to interior locations are likely to access flights. “We will have our workers also at places like the Mabura intersection, where we know people have to pass through when they are going to Region Nine or when they have to go to Region Eight. So we will have the ability to capture all of those people coming through those areas,” the Vector Control Director explained. “When people stop at these points the health care worker will ask them a couple of questions and if they qualify, in terms of if they need a smear, our officers can take it off at that point,” explained Dr. Rahman. He noted that while the process will kick off as an optional service, it is expected that it will eventually become mandatory whereby “persons will have to take a smear. This is all part of our efforts to

ensure that an infected person does not expose others to the disease or you do not have to wait to travel to Georgetown to be treated for the disease. You can become sicker if you wait and make life even harder for yourself.” “It is best for us to capture this disease early and break transmission early,” Dr. Rahman asserted. He explained that while taking a sample and testing for the disease could take as little as 15 minutes, Vector Control Workers will however not insist that persons wait for their results. Moreover, he noted that efforts will be made by the workers to obtain contact details and if persons tested are found to be positive they will be contacted so that they could be afforded treatment. “This is something that we think will work in the interest of reducing malaria further, and we think it will at the same time be a service that will be convenient to the

Dr. Reyaud Rahman public,” the Vector Control Director speculated. “People don’t have to worry about the whole ‘join a line and stand up for hours’ but rather we will be making the process simpler for them.” While the new measure will be undertaken by Vector Control workers within the system, Dr. Rahman noted that the sector is recruiting

staffers who will help the process along. He however, added that there are other considerations being discussed to ensure efficacy of the newest tactic to decrease malaria cases. “We are confident that whatever the case is we will have people to man those facilities,” asserted Dr. Rahman, who insisted that “we are an evolving department because we have a proper training unit, so not only is our staff being replenished, but we are constantly being strengthened also.” It is expected that staffers will be rotated regularly at the new facilities. The Vector Control Unit has been putting a great deal of effort into the fight against Malaria, and according to Dr. Rahman, the disease demands a great deal of attention because it affects many individuals, can lead to death if untreated, and therefore demands a sizeable sum to ensure its control.

PPP wants “clean” Official List of Electors The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that a list completely void of discrepancies is prepared after the Claims and Objections period—which is set to commence February 9—concludes. This call was made by General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday, as he hosted the Party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House in Georgetown. He said that the claims and objections period will offer GECOM another opportunity to “further cleanse the list of underage persons and the dead.” Rohee also called on the political opposition to “join in the advocacy for a clean and transparent list which will pave the way for free and fair elections in 2015.” He then urged Guyanese to take the final opportunity to ensure they are properly and correctly listed. The General Secretary noted that the claims and objections period would allow for the change in particulars, and objections to persons not eligible to vote in 2015, among others. Rohee said that the PPP remains optimistic

that the Official List of Electors will present the nation with a chance to face an election that is free and without fear. He told media operatives that the PPP “time and again has expressed concerns over the recruitment of polling day staff and had requested public vetting of these individuals.” The politician said that his Party’s request will serve to improve the confidence of the electorate in GECOM and “solidify its own integrity of elections management. It is important that the most suited persons, based on experience, qualifications and background, are employed to work on polling day.” Rohee claimed that there were persons who acted biased and created problems in the 2011 and previous elections. He emphasised that they must be debarred from working at any other elections that are held in Guyana. “The role of these individuals can never be over-emphasized in a smooth and transparent electoral process. Recruited persons tasked with upholding the democracy of our country must be made accountable to the Guyanese people,” said Rohee.

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Murdered fisherman’s wife Miners abducted, robbed of gold at ‘police roadblock’ seeking release of vessel

Ashmoon Khan thinking of how she will support her children

Dead: Envil Pollard

Charged with murder: Marlon Callender

The mother of eight who lost her husband after he was fatally shot last Thursday, by a security guard while fishing in proximity to Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc. (PSI), Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara (EBD) is seeking the release of her husband’s fishing vessel from the Police Marine Wharf, Ruimveldt, Georgetown. A 25-year-old guard attached to PSI, Marlon Callender, was charged with murder on Monday. He appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman and was not require to enter a plea to the indictable charge which stated on January 29 at Mc Doom, EBD, he murdered Envil Pollard called ‘Elvis’. A post mortem

examination showed that Pollard died from hemorrhage and shock which resulted from shotgun injuries. Pollard, 45, of 384 Crane Playfield, West Coast Demerara was a fisherman for over 30 years. According to the dead man’s wife, Ashmoon Khan, she is very depressed, and facing her children daily is now a task, since explaining what transpired pertaining to their father’s demise has left many of them in a state of shock. “My children aren’t eating or sleeping properly, I have an 11-year-old who has to write SSEE and she can’t even focus…My youngest child is 1 year, three months and my eldest is 27 years old.

It’s not easy for us now. My husband was the breadwinner of the family and now what will I do? If anyone or organization can help me I won’t refuse, and if the Human Services Ministry offers counseling for my children I won’t refuse,” the mother lamented. The distressed womanm who has been a stallholder for the past 30 years, noted that she will continue to sell fish and try her best to provide for her children, but she needs her husband’s fishing vessel released from police custody. Pollard, who would usually fish under PSI wharf, was confronted by a security guard and was reportedly shot multiple times with a shotgun.

An investigation has been launched after a robbery of three mining workers last Sunday morning by persons dressed as police ranks. The armed men reportedly escaped with 17 ounces of gold after tying up their victims in a lonely trail along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The incident has now reportedly prompted miners to increase security measures. According to reports, the miners had left their camp in the interior a few hours before with the week’s takings. In the vicinity of Loo Lands, along the highway, they were stopped at what appeared to be a police roadblock. It was about 10:00 hrs. A man was standing in the middle of the road with a long gun, while there were other men in the corner wearing what appeared to be police uniforms. The men signaled the vehicle into the corner of the road. According to police sources, the armed men told the mining workers that they were searching for arms and ammunition. After searching the vehicle, the ‘policemen’ said that they wanted to

conduct a more detailed search and were taking the pickup to the police station. Instead, the men under the watchful eye of the gunmen, were taken along a deserted trail where they were tied up. The perpetrators punctured the wheels of the pickup and took away the workers’ driver’s licences and identification. The gold was also taken. According a police source, the workers were threatened and warned not to report the matter to the police, since the gunmen were aware of where they lived and other details. The ‘policemen’ left in a car and the men managed to free themselves. A report was said to have been made to the police and a number of ranks were sent from the city. Kaieteur News was told that at least one of the workers is refusing to return to work because of the traumatizing experience. Police sources who spoke to Kaieteur News were unable to say whether any police patrols were stationed at the location at the time of the attack.

Some sources pointed to similarities in this incident and the August 2014 abduction of a Timehribound couple and a taxi driver near Land of Canaan, East Bank of Demerara. Latchmin and Lekraj Gopaul, along with taxi driver Parmamand Teekaram, were tied up and robbed of millions at Yarrowkabra, on the Soesdyke/Linden highway, after being abducted by two armed men who were wearing police uniforms. The victims were stopped at a ‘road block’ near Land of Canaan, on the East Bank Demerara public road. Teekaram, the driver, alleged that one of the men had a handgun and was dressed in blue police attire, while the other carried a ‘long gun’ and wore the clothing of a ‘black clothes’ rank. The highway and the East Bank Demerara roadway have come under bad press coverage in recent times after visitors and persons on the way to the Timehri airport reported that they were robbed. Police had managed to crack one gang that had links to former ranks.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 VACANCY

WANTED

Admin Assistant, within the vicinity of E.B.D & W.B.D. Must be well spoken & have 5 CXC subjects including: Maths & English. Email: snow198390@hotmail.com

2 wash bay attendants Tel:660-4405 (serious enquiries only)

International Cruiseline Purser officers, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, printers, cosmetologists etc Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 695-9880; 669-4755 Live-in housekeeper 35-45 yrs to care for infant Tel: 6978797 One Skillful joiner to work in workshop – Contact: 2191342 or 610-7005 Factory staff, GTI / GITC Male/ Female graduates preferred. Canter drivers, marketing assistant, Drivers Licence required. Tel. 266 5569 Salesclerk from ages 25-45 with experienced, appear with application @ Christine’s Variety Store @ Lombard St – Contact: 6268003/ 227-8529 One TM 6X6 Driver with mechanical experienced, one burner/cutter – Call: 6165510; 683-3480

LAND FOR SALE House Lots in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities @ Eccles, 60X100 - $7.5M. (Special prices) - Call: 2272913; 683-3033 Eccles: Commercial lots for sale at Eccles – Tel:227-2913. Cell: 683-3033 1. Parika, Peter Street; 2. Blankenburg, behind gas station lot size: 75’X76' (3 parcels)= Contact 650-0402 Located in Republic Gardens, Peters Hall, E.B.D. Interest person – Contact: 231-5359 or 672-7189

Certificate in: Cosmetology, nails, wig designs, early child care/ care for elderly classes commence February Call: 666-5241/ 619-7603

Experienced dispatcher and taxi drivers at Princess Hotel @ Providence – Tel: 2657076; 616-5419 Live in driver/mechanic 3545 years for live in domestic Tel: 227-1813 (8-5pm) Persons to ironing & cleaner for office in Eccles – Call: 614-4358 Accounts Clerk, must be capable of preparing payroll and monthly vat - Call: 614-4358 Counter Staff; apply @ Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market Streets. One domestic cleaner E.C.D Tel: 644-9802; 603-5416 1 Live in maid to work in Georgetown - Tel:691-6260 1 Cook to work in the interior Tel: 691-6260 One (1) porter, kindly apply with application to K&B Mining & Hardware Supplies, Lot 152 Church St, Alberttown - Tel: 225-0349; 222-2475 One mechanic to work in the interior, must have experienced with Perkins & Cummins Engine – Call: 6916260 Experienced dispatcher @ West Side Taxi – Call: 6000688; 600-0699 Urgently needed; attractive waitresses - Tel: 686-3116 Responsible hire car drivers – Call: 226-0765 Live in caretaker for sawmill at Linden Highway – Tel: 2612553 Workers for land dredge, 1 male cook - $100,000 – Monthly (8:00-4:30) – Tel:694-2310 Driver to work route 47 bus – Call: 693-7331 or 685-6478

Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.5M, $4M, Eccles-$4M, Tuschen - $2.2M. All legal fees paid – Contact: 675- Urgently need two low income house lots to buy in 7292; 652-2018 Parfaite Harmonie – Tel:675Riverside land @ Upper 7292; 652-2018 Demerara River, Reasonable price –Call: 678-1575; 223- 1 Handy boy to work in the interior – Tel: 691-6260 8590

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Lincoln 500 AMP diesel welders with Perkins 4 cylinder engine - Tel#650-0402

Apartment to rent at Parfaite Harmonie – Tel:601-5058. Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590

Mill Cut Lumber Kabukalli, Silverballi, Etc – Call: 6539752; 688-6579

One male shop attendant, age 18-25yrs, Sale! One stall @ Stabroek Market – Tel:2257794; 679-1151 One female dispatcher; Contact Classic Ride Taxi, 18 Hendbury Avenue Nandy Park E.B.D -233-5227 Experienced sale girls Call: 264-3355,668-3985, 683-7936

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Cat 320 CL 2005 only 3800HRs sold as is, cash offer only, must go – Contact Azim: 660-3235 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, AC Units- Call Lindon on 641-1086; 694-2202 Repairs to plasma, LCD, LED television etc – Call: Abdul Electronics: 225-0391 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $15,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maria Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Eagle’s fridge re-gas - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 223-4207 For all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, swimming pools, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822 Khemraj & Son Landscaping & Plant nursery: landscaping, cutting big trees & removing, grafted oranges & limes plants for sale – Call: 627-5969 MASSAGE Money Back guarantee; cleaner, clearer younger looking skin in two weeks, also flatter stomach – Call: 684-9409; 699-4211

Fluffy, loving puppies – Tel:645-0240 or 629-3814 2 Imported male German shepherd, 4 months old and 1 white female husky - Call: 664-5401 Yamaha motor’s for sale – 6HP & 8 HP – Contact: 6547876 1 XBOX 360 E with 15 games & 2 controllers, also, 1 Nintendo 3DS with games – Call: 683-8386 Beautiful Tibetan Terrier pups for sale – Call: 696-7467 Boutique closeout sale: Clothing, shoes, handbags, fragrance jewelry and more. Whole Sale & Retail! – Tel: 626-0757 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer – Tel: 220-1981, 698-7047 1- Complete 6" Dredge for mining, includes 6 Cylinder Perkins & 1-4 Cylinder. All pumps, mats, etc, asking $3M – Contact:610-1001 One complete purified drinking water shop, 3 white tanks, ultraviolet, 1 amp, 1 pressure pump, wooden building 10X10 -Tel: 622-5986

GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 639-8101 1 Huge building in Lethem Commercial Zone, ideal for stores - Call: 664-5401; 615-5343 Prime business place to rent on Sheriff Street, only for offices – Contact: 627-6740 Executive Residence – centrally and beautifully located in Bel-Air Springs, Georgetown for immediate occupancy. Ph 226-6229, 2265903 Spacious 2 bedrooms apartment for rental in Eccles AA, Call: 233-2136 or 6612508/223-5148 3 Bedrooms apartment for rent at Mon-Repos E.C.D $55,000 Contact: 692-9295 or 660-5233 1 upstairs 3 bedrooms furnished, in Central G/Town - $90,000- Tel:223-9727;6730373;675-3838 Sharon’s Building, limited mall space from $65,000 $275,000- Call: 225-4413/6140949 Salon Station to rent – Tel: 667-7889

Games for PS2, PS3, XBOX360, WII, consoles also available – Call: 6722566, 265-3232 Two barber/salon chairs – Call: 264-3070, 680-2191 Tacoma Tundra Parts, BMW, Audi lights & visors, mud flap, Toyota Cami Engine Tel: 680-6374 Dell/HP computers with 19’’ LCDs $55,000, Laptops $49,000, free educational software & games, Future Tech 231-2206 New/used salon equipment and security cameras and monitors, lorex brand - Call: 664-5401 New Arrivals: New Shipment of Magnet wires (copper) & installation fish paper for sale – Contact: 603-5649 New shipment of pit bull parts: Wind Screen, bumpers, fog lights, back/front bearings – Tel: 628-0909

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Voxy to register in ‘B’ fully loaded never registered - $2.1M - Call: 6172891 1 Pitbull minibus, stick gear, BPP series, mag rims- $2.2M neg. Call: 673-7652 Nissan Titan 4X4; fully loaded; good condition; price negotiable – Call: 6201026 1 Toyota Landcruiser Prado PMM Series Call: 219-5354 Monday- Friday 8:154:15Pm & Saturday 8:151:15PM Toyota Hilux 4X4, 2 doors, manual, long base, solid DEF, excellent condition – Tel:6033384 1-10 Ton Ford Cargo, dump truck GEE 9144, 1 Spare Cab & Gear box, working condition - Price $1.4M - Tel: 663-0567; 684-8654 1 Honda 600 CCRR, Toyota AT 212, AT 192, Allion, Raum, EP71 Starlet, Alteeza, 1 Nissan Titan – Tel: 6445096; 697-1453 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Toyota Prado, Price$5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Toyota SV 40 Camary, AC, Alarm Etc - $700,000 negotiable – Tel: 621-6503

CAR RENTAL WANTED Presser / Clipper, straight stitch/over edge machine operators, cleaner – Call: 2222541 (8:00am-4:00pm) (MonFri). CLEANING LADY FOR E.B.D- MUST KNOW TO COOK, CLEAN & IRON. HONEST & RESPONSIBLE, HOURS 6:00AM-3:00PM – CALL: 603-0758 Hairdresser & nail technician to work in Alberttown – Call: 684-9409 FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table – Tel: 277-0578 PEN PAL Companion for retired gentleman 38yrs+. Reply with photo to bobbyother@yahoo.com

PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL-$4,000&UPPERDAYCALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 FOR SALE Lights: Premio, Allion, Fielder & Carina and One Toyota IST never registered - $1.9M – Tel: 628-0909 (Continued on page 29)

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Schoolgirl sex assault file with DPP The Director of Public Prosecutions is in possession of a report on the alleged rape of a 14-year-old by the son of a prominent official, police said in a release yesterday. “The police have completed investigations into the alleged rape of a 14-yearold female on the East Coast of Demerara recently. “The file in the matter has been submitted today, Tuesday February 03, 2015, to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, in keeping with the Sexual Offences Act,” the release stated. The submission of the report came just a day after Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster urged Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to give the case “special attention.” Webster had also requested that the Top Cop

conduct a “detailed investigation” into allegations that a police rank tried to pervert the course of justice into the matter. Minister Webster noted that in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act No. 7/ 2010, Part II titled “Offences” Section 10 (1) specifically speaks to the rape of a child under 16 years of age (the complainant) if the accused “Engages in sexual penetration with the complainant”. “I also wish to bring to your attention, that under the Protection of Children Act No. 17/2009 Section 7 “Duty to Report” Sub-Section III states “where a report is made to a police officer under subsection 1, the police officer shall immediately inform the Director of the said report, investigate the matter promptly and inform the Director of the findings of the investigation.”

“I am therefore calling upon you to use your good office, for special attention to be given to have this matter investigated in its entirety, with a view to ensuring that justice is served. “Secondly, I am also requesting that a detailed investigation be conducted by the Guyana Police Force, as it relates to the allegation of the involvement of the Police Officer, who appears to have been implicated in trying to pervert the course of justice during the investigation process.” Minister Webster has met with the teen’s mother while officials from the Child Care and Protection Agency interviewed the girl and her mother. The alleged victim has told police that the 24-yearold man sexually assaulted her on January 27, last, after luring her into his car under the pretext of taking her home. According to the teen, the

Jeweller remanded for E’bo road deaths

Magistrate Sunil Scarce yesterday remanded 29-yearold jeweller Satyanand Rampersaud until March 3. Rampersaud is the Hampton Court resident implicated in the deaths of 23-year-old Adrian Junior Osborne and 20-year-old Colin Anthony John. The accused was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. The police have also leveled charges related to failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance and driving under the influence of alcohol. It was pointed out in court that Rampersaud, who entered not guilty pleas to the three other charges, but was not required to enter pleas to the two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, had alcohol above the legal limit in his system at the time of the accident. The prosecution objected to bail on the causing death charges citing that the

CHARGED: Satyanand Rampersaud

DEAD: Colin Anthony John

offence is prevalent and punishable. Magistrate Scarce did however granted bail in the sum of $30,000 on the charge of failing to rendering assistance, $25,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol and another $20,000 for failing to stop after an accident. Counsel Heimraji

Rajkumar told the court that his client has a stable place of abode and is the father of two young children. Colin John and Adrian Osborne died early last Sunday morning after they were struck down and killed. The young men were walking to their Henerietta homes in the company of friends when they met their demise.

Miner charged for robbery at South Ruimveldt Park Facing two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and gun before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, was a 22-year-old miner, Rafael Hintzen, of East La Penitence. The charges which were read to him by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry stated that on January25, last, in South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, Ryburn Fraser and Cidel Hector were both robbed by Hintzen while sitting in a car. The accused reportedly stole one gold chain valued $250,000, one gold ring valued $100,000, $400,000 in cash, US$360, Euro 50 (equivalent to G$16,000),TT$320, B’dos $40 all totaling over G$800,000 and said to be the

property of Fraser. From Hector, he is accused of stealing $200,000 and one Samsung phone valued $4000. Police Prosecutor Grant, requested that bail be denied since Hintzen, who maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to both charges, is currently before the court facing charges of a similar nature. The Prosecutor contended that this crime was committed while Hintzen was out on bail on the other matters. Considering the arguments put forward by Grant, Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry denied Hintzen bail and adjourned the matter to February 25.

suspect had promised to sponsor her for a beauty pageant. Kaieteur News understands that the teen has submitted a statement and a medical document to police. She reportedly also took photographs which show bite marks that were allegedly inflicted during the assault. This newspaper understands that the suspect has denied that he raped the teen and claimed that the sex was consensual. He was placed on $50,000 bail, allegedly after spending about three hours in the lockups. Kaieteur News was told that the teen’s mother has refused to accept a financial settlement from the suspect’s father.

(From page 28)

CAR RENTAL Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807; 690-6494 DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM

Jaipaul Sharma back with APNU Leader of the Justice For All Party (JFAP) Jaipaul Sharma has rejoined A Partnership for National Unity, ten months after his sudden resignation from the collation. Sharma confirmed his return during a brief interview, while APNU said that it recognised JFAP’s continued support, “as a strong and committed partner” to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections.” “A Partnership for National Unity remains committed to our vision of a Guyana in which all citizens can live productive lives free from the ravages of poverty, are secure in their homes and in their communities and are able to enjoy the benefits of political, social and cultural liberation,” the release said. “In this regard APNU recognises the continued support of the Justice For All Party (JFAP) as a strong and committed partner in the partnership to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections. “APNU rejects the principle of winner-take-all as the basis for forming a government. APNU as a multi-party grouping is committed to the inclusion of other political parties, along with organized labour, farmers’ organisations, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, civil society

TO LET House for rent @ Grove Housing Scheme with 3 bedrooms -$70,000 – Tel:6424429; 639-8056 Furnished 1 & 2 bedrooms apartments: AC, grilled, parking (walking distance to Caricom & UG) – Call: 6233404 or 222-6708 Furnished executive one or two bedroom suites in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call 609 2466. Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours – Call: 227-1218 Three bedrooms concrete top flat in Cane View Ave, South Ruimveldt Gardens - $90,000 - Call: 218-1949 One apartment for rent at Mon Repos E.C.D, First Street – Tel: 220-7330

Jaipaul Sharma bodies and patriotic citizens, “irrespective of ethnicity, social status, gender, age, religious or political persuasion”, insofar as they adopt and observe the core principles of APNU as declared in its published statement of principles.” Sharma had tendered his resignation as an APNU parliamentarian in April 2014, after Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had made unsavoury comments about him during a parliamentary Budget debate. The remarks referred to the high court trial of the Parliamentarian’s father Chandra Narine Sharma. At the time, Mr. Sharma had said that he believed that the PPP/C would have used the matter pertaining to his father against APNU during an election.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Land with small concrete house; for sale in Grove over 8,000 Sq. Ft. Call: 612-4030; 216-2759 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 Corner Property, Grove Public Road - $29M Neg. Call: 613-5645 Houses & house lots for sale in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities, located @ Eccles E.B.D Tel: 227-2913; 683-3033 Two storey wooden & concrete, three bedrooms, self contained with A/C @ Parika - Tel: 660-3118 Property @ Water Pum Street Leonora (24X58) - Tel: 642-5799 One 6 bedroom house & land in Mon Repos E.C.D (Martyrsville) with two inside toilets & bath - $13M Negotiable – Tel: 629-5300 1 Two story concrete building, Central G/Town $75M - Tel:223-9727; 6730373; 675-3838 House + land, E.C.D Covet John, Oil Mill Rd, need quick sale, no time wasters - $4M negotiable – Call Angie : 6032405

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Linden IMC blocks clean-up exercise A resolution was passed by councilors of the Linden Interim Management Committee (IMC), at their last statutory meeting held on January 28, that the current clean-up exercise which recently commenced in Linden, be ceased immediately, until full consultations are held with the municipality, and all logistics are determined. The resolution which was sent to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) Norman Whittaker, and was signed by Linden IMC chairman Orrin Gordon, also

carried the signatures of several councillors. Addressing the Minister the correspondence noted, “whereas a clean-up exercise has commenced in Linden, and whereas this exercise was commenced without the full consultation with the municipality and its councillors and by extension the residents of the community. And whereas, the amount of funds allocated for this project is not known to the municipality. Be it resolved that this current project, which has commenced, be ceased immediately, until full

consultations are held with the municipality, and all logistics determined, after further consultations with the various communities.” Councillor Gordon Callender in alluding to the clean-up exercise, said that only twenty persons were employed to undertake the project, in a town of no less than eighteen wards. “Employing twenty people to undertake such a project is grossly inadequate. We are saying that no less than twenty persons should have been employed from each ward, to do this work. “With twenty persons to

a ward there would be three hundred and sixty persons employed to carry out this exercise, and that is what we need to see done, but these people just come in and decide that they’re going to get this thing done using twenty people. So the question is, what they doing with the money?” “It’s one billion that was allocated, for the countrywide clean-up campaign. Five million was allocated to Georgetown, what dey doing with the rest. The next thing is dey buy some mini excavator, which dey plan to hand over to the RDC. That should be handed over to the municipality, because is the municipality that has the responsibility to clean the Town.” Callender also berated the parliamentary opposition for not ‘’querying extensively”, what Central government intends to do with the remaining ninety-five million dollars allocated for the countrywide clean-up campaign He noted too, that the persons engaged in the cleaning exercise, are not clearing the drains or the parapet, which he said was not good enough.”If dey cleaning dey suppose to clear

the drains and clean the parapets.” As regards the mini excavator and the gift of same to the RDC, Interim Management Committee chairman Orrin Gordon, noted recently, “that means the main body responsible for carrying out such works in the town has to request the use from the RDC. “In my press conference recently I pointed out the difficulties we have encountered with getting most things done with the RDC and the lack of collaboration in many instances. It is now clear to

me that the MLGRD is following a blueprint to create divisions so that agendas are easily carried out. I dare any REO to stand up to these egregious and discriminatory positions of the MLGRD”. Alluding to the employment of the twenty persons, Gordon asserted,” No meeting was held with the council to propose what we know better than the officers from Georgetown. You cannot come to Linden and decide upfront that you will hire 20 persons at $4,000 for one day to clean the entire community. (Enid Joaquin)

Conman slapped with 2-year sentence for fraud A 44-year-old father of two, who tried to con two unsuspecting women last year, was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail after appearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on two separate charges of fraud. Police Prosecutor Inspector Grant, explained to the court that Paul Gittens, on January, 20, 2014, at

Alberttown, Georgetown, obtained from Thandeka Watson a sum totaling $100,000 to purchase a flat screen television on her behalf. He said that a few days later, on January 28, Gittens collected $800,000 from another unsuspecting woman, Harriet Hackett, pretending that he was in a position to purchase a motorcar for her. Neither of the women received what they paid for. Though he pleaded guilty to both charges, he told Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry that it was just a business transaction gone wrong, and that things did not turn out the way he had planned. “Your worship please, all I beggin’ yuh fuh, is fuh show some leniency,” he said repeatedly. The Chief Magistrate, however, sentenced him to one year for each of the offences.

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Britain votes to allow world’s Jordan executes two Iraqi militants first ‘three-parent’ IVF babies in response to pilot’s death (Reuters) - Britain voted on Tuesday to become the first country to allow a “threeparent” IVF technique which doctors say will prevent some inherited incurable diseases but which critics see as a step towards creating designer babies. The treatment is known as “three-parent” in vitro fertilisation (IVF) because the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, would have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor. It is designed to help families with mitochondrial diseases, incurable conditions passed down the maternal line that affect around one in 6,500 children worldwide. After an emotionally charged 90-minute debate that some lawmakers criticised as being too short for such a serious matter, parliament voted 382 to 128 in favour of the technique, called mitochondrial donation. The vote paves the way for a medical world first for Britain — which along with the United States has been at the forefront of scientific research on the treatments — but one that is fiercely disputed by some religious groups and other critics. The process involves intervening in the fertilisation process to remove mitochondria, which act as tiny energygenerating batteries inside cells, and which, if faulty, can cause inherited conditions such as fatal heart problems, liver failure, brain disorders, blindness and muscular dystrophy. Mitochondrial DNA is separate from DNA found in the cell nucleus and does not affect human characteristics such as hair or eye colour, appearance or personality traits. “I wouldn’t stand here and defend the concept of designer babies — choosing the colour of the eyes and all

the rest of it. This is about purely dealing with those terrible, terrible illnesses,” opposition Labour lawmaker Andrew Miller, chair of parliament’s science and technology committee, told the debate. International charities, advocacy groups and scientists had urged Britain to pass laws to allow the treatment, saying it brought a “first glimmer of hope” for some families of having a baby who could live without suffering. “We have finally reached a milestone in giving women an invaluable choice, the choice to become a mother without fear of passing on a lifetime under the shadow of mitochondrial disease to their child,” Robert Meadowcroft, chief executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said following the vote. “RED LINE” In an open letter to lawmakers, 11 international campaign groups, including the U.S. United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, described the condition as “unimaginably cruel”. “It strips our children of the skills they have learned, inflicts pain that cannot be managed and tires their organs one by one until their little bodies cannot go on any more,” they wrote. Lawmakers were given a free vote on the issue, and Prime Minister David

Cameron’s spokesman said the British leader had voted to support it, adding it was not “about playing God”. “He has a particular sympathy with those parents whose children are born with very serious illnesses, that in nearly all cases end their lives prematurely,” the spokesman said, referring to Cameron’s son Ivan who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy and died aged six in 2009. Proposed new laws allowing the treatments to be carried out in Britain still have to be approved by the upper house, which commentators expect to endorse parliament’s support. Gillian Lockwood, medical director of Midland Fertility clinic and a reproductive ethicist, urged the scientists developing the techniques to continue “to educate and reassure those who continue to have anxieties”. The Bishops Conference of England and Wales said the Church opposed the destruction of human embryos as part of the process and hoped treatments for mitochondrial disease could be found. “The human embryo is a new human life with potential; it should be respected and protected from the moment of conception and not used as disposable material,” Bishop John Sherrington said in a statement.

AMMAN (Reuters) Jordan has executed by hanging a jailed Iraqi woman militant whose release had been demanded by the Islamic State group that burnt a captured Jordanian pilot to death, a security source said on Wednesday. Responding to the killing of the pilot, whose death was announced on Tu e s d a y, t h e J o r d a n i a n authorities also executed another senior al Qaeda prisoner sentenced to death for plots to wage attacks against the proWestern kingdom in the last decade. Sajida al-Rishawi, the Iraqi woman militant, was sentenced to death for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people. Ziyad Karboli, an Iraqi al Qaeda operative, who was convicted in 2008 for killing a

Jordanian, was also executed at dawn, the source said. Jordan, which has been mounting air raids in Syria as part of the U.S.-led alliance against Islamic State insurgents, said it would deliver a “strong, earthshaking and decisive” response to the killing of pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh. The fate of Kasaesbeh, a member of a large tribe that forms the backbone of support for the country’s Hashemite monarchy, has gripped Jordan for weeks and some Jordanians have criticized King Abdullah for embroiling them in the U.S.led war that they say will provoke a militant backlash. The king cut short a visit to the United States to return home following w o r d o f K a s a e s b e h ’s death. In a televised statement, he said the

Iraqi Sajida al-Rishawi pilot’s killing was an act of “cowardly terror” by a deviant group that had no relation to Islam. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Oil jumps as dollar dives, crude up 19 percent in four days (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped again on Tuesday as a tumbling dollar sent most commodities rallying, bringing crude’s four-day rise to about 19 percent, its biggest such advance since January 2009. Despite signs that U.S. crude supplies had registered another heavy build last week, investors were more confident that oil prices have hit a bottom after a seven-month rout. Traders said oil bulls were encouraged by BP’s plan to cut capital expenditures 13 percent in 2015, which came after reductions announced by other major energy companies. Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 settled up $3.16, or nearly 6 percent, at $57.91 a barrel. It rallied as high as $59 for the first time since end of

December. U.S. crude CLc1, or WTI, finished up $3.48, or 7 percent, at $53.05, after a session high at $54.24. A global glut of crude had prompted a sell-off that brought oil prices down about 60 percent from June to late January.

In the last four sessions, Brent and WTI rose about $9 a barrel, or about 19 percent. The rally began on Friday, when oil services firm Baker Hughes said the number of U.S. oil drilling rigs had its biggest weekly decline in nearly 30 years.

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Fired Trini Security Minister Gary Griffith: I did the right thing

Dyer-Griffith: Time for the COP to get out

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – A shocking outburst on national television came Monday night from former national security minister, Gary Griffith—minutes after an address to the nation announcing a Cabinet shakeup by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar—in which he claimed to have been fired. Persad-Bissessar’s address was centred on the current scandal, based on allegations by Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West that he was asked by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan to withhold a witness statement in the Section 34 matter. West said he was offered the PCA position in exchange and the matter is currently under police investigation. Griffith is named in the matter as a volunteer witness. Griffith said Monday night he would continue to hold his head high as it was his belief he had done the right thing, which he could not say of all his Cabinet colleagues. Griffith was at the time on air via telephone on TV6’s post-address panel discussion, which first featured People’s National Movement (PNM) PRO and senator, Faris Al-Rawi.

Gary Griffith

The former minister lashed out at PersadBissessar, saying the “goal posts” had “shifted conveniently” in light of the fact he was fired on the basis, according to the PM, of his being in conflict with his position because of his involvement in the matter. Griffith said he was not in any way a person of interest in the matter and had not been implicated in any wrongdoing. Persad-Bissessar, on the other hand, he said, was also part

of a legal battle in the “emailgate” matter raised by Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley. Griffith also hinted at the possibility of legal action on his part, as he said former Cabinet colleague, Trade and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath, had tarnished his name in accusing him of speaking out of turn about the Cabinet and of stating publicly the Cabinet had pressured him, which Griffith claims he never said. “He has tarnished my name with nothing to verify that,” Griffith said. He later in his remarks urged young people not to sell their souls. And Griffith’s wife, Congress of the People (COP) chairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith, later stated on the TV6 panel discussion, also via telephone, she did not believe the party could remain part of the People’s Partnership Government under the current circumstances. She said she found the grounds on which Griffith had been fired to be “unacceptable” and she was also not aware any discussion had been held with the COP about the firing of Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith, which was among the surprises dropped by Persad-Bissessar Monday night. Dyer-Griffith said she did not know whether the matter had been discussed with COP political leader, Prakash Ramadhar, who PersadBissessar announced Monday night was to take up the portfolio of Minister of Justice, in addition to his current duties as Legal Affairs Minister. In her address, PersadBissessar announced her intention to revoke the appointment of Emmanuel George as Justice Minister. (TRINIDAD EXPRESS)

Trinidad Express - Congress of the People (COP) chairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith was expected to meet political leader, Prakash Ramadhar, yesterday to discuss Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar’s decision to revoke the appointment of Senate President Timothy HamelSmith. Dyer-Griffith said she was “very upset” with the removal of Hamel-Smith and Minister of National Security Gary Griiffith, who is her husband. And she did not share the same views as COP political leader, Prakash Ramadhar. She said: “I stand by my position that I find it an untenable scenario for the COP to remain part of the current configuration based on these revelations. My views are opposed to that of the political leader. We have not had the opportunity to discuss this matter or ventilate it. I have been receiving calls from past, present and future members all of Monday evening and yesterday morning of their displeasure with the scenario and their support of my statement of the untenable sce-

Nicole Dyer-Griffith nario that we have found ourselves in,” she said. She said she found the grounds on which Griffith had been fired to be “unacceptable” and did not know whether the matter had been discussed with Ramadhar. Persad-Bissessar announced that Ramadhar would take up the portfolio of Minister of Justice, in addition to his current duties as Legal Affairs Minister. Prior to Persad-Bissessar’s announcement on Monday night, Ramadhar said in light

of a police investigation into allegations of possible criminal wrongdoing by the Attorney General, the Prime Minister and the Political Leader of the Congress of the People met on the issue. Ramadhar stated that the Prime Minister indicated that she was ascertaining certain facts and will make her decision shortly. “The Prime Minister has responsibility for appointments to Ministerial offices and we await her decision in this matter. The COP’s position that officeholders under investigation in such circumstances, in the interest of their office, should step aside while investigation proceeds has been consistent and is well known. We expect also that the investigation will examine all relevant issues with an openminded approach and proceed along any avenues necessary to unearth any wrongdoing by any officeholder or other person involved. While thoroughness is needed, it is expected that the investigation will be brought to a timely conclusion.” he stated.

Martinique to become first French territory to join OECS CASTRIES - St Lucia — The history of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will take a new turn today when the French territory of Martinique signs on as an associate member, increasing the nine-member grouping to ten. The historic signing of Martinique as an associate member of the OECS will take place in Forte de France, Martinique, during the opening ceremony of the 60th meeting of the OECS Authority. The agenda for the 60th meeting of the OECS Authority will include an update on the implementation of the OECS Economic Union, the free circulation of goods, and issues on sports and healthy lifestyles. Martinique’s pending membership of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States follows a period of negotiations after the Regional Council of Martinique submitted a formal application for associate membership in the OECS with the full support/endorsement of the French government. In November 2013, the then OECS director general addressed the Regional Assembly in Martinique after

Dr Didacus Jules which the assembly unanimously voted in favour of Martinique’s membership of the OECS. Since then the OECS Commission has been treating Martinique effectively as an associate member and the French region has already been attending regional meetings on matters such as health. The current OECS director general, Dr Didacus Jules, described the pending event on February 4, 2015, in Forte de France as a very historic moment: “The involvement of Martinique in the OECS; while there are limitations because

of their status in relation to France, opens up great potential and certainly widens the demographics from an economic perspective. We have seen the relationship grow between Martinique and Saint Lucia and between Guadeloupe and Dominica for example. What that does now is widen this to the whole OECS. The use of Martinique as a tertiary health facility centre for the OECS is something under discussion so there are a lot of opportunities. We are very concerned about not just ensuring growth in the economies of the OECS but growth with equity. It’s not enough to just grow the economy if you are growing it and only the existing players benefit, it has to be the type of growth that leads to a widening of opportunity for smaller persons; trickle-down effect; a spread of the benefits and community tourism we think will do particularly well with the engagement of Martinique and Guadeloupe. So we are expecting that this will yield great benefits in terms of weekend travel, bed and breakfast arrangements, community sporting activities, and so on.”

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Shame the Govt. for hindering young entrepreneurs -Yaneek Page KINGSTON, Jamaica: One of Jamaica’s noted entrepreneurs, Yaneek Page, is urging tertiary-level students to go public and shame the Government into addressing the bureaucratic roadblocks that frustrate the pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures. The managing director of Future Services International, was speaking recently at the launch of an entrepreneurship competition spearheaded by the Guild of Students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. She told dozens of students of her ordeal in getting government approval to sell her pepper spray product, five years after developing the crime fighting-tool from local Scotch bonnet. Working with the Scientific Research Council, Page invested almost $1 million in the creation of the product but has been facing legal hurdles in getting the product on the market. She is urging students to go public with their experiences, even at the risk of earning government backlash. Meanwhile, junior minister in the technology Ministry, Julian Robinson, who was present, admitted that more needs to be done to make it easier for entrepreneurs although he insists that strides have been made. He says students need to be formally introduced to en-

Julian Robinson

trepreneurship earlier in high school. Robinson argues that the course has to be introduced earlier to students especially in light of Jamaica’s challenging economic situation. Robinson’s call was supported by UWI entrepreneurship lecturer, Dr Kadamawe Knife, who argued further, that entrepreneurship offered at the sixth-form level should be linked with youth programmes offered by the

government and private sector. He says this would ensure the sustainability of ideas and the creation of an environment where the entrepreneurial spirit will thrive and survive among Jamaica’s youth. Students in the Jamaican school system have the option of studying entrepreneurship at the sixth-form level following the recent introduction of the course by the Caribbean Examination Council. (The Gleaner)

Japan praised for developing Caribbean fisheries sector

BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) – The executive director of the Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Milton Haughton, has praised Japan for its support to the regional fishing industry over the past 20 years. “The fact that Japan has been willing and steadfast in contributing so generously to promote sustainable use of marine resources in the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) countries, even in these challenging economic times, is in my opinion, a true reflection of the special bond of friendship and importance that Japan attaches to our re-

lationship,” Haughton said. “Over the past 20 years, Japan has emerged as the major contributor toward the development of the fisheries sector at the bilateral level within the Caribbean. “Japan has been providing vital and substantial support in upgrading and improving the artisanal fishing fleet; fishing ports and other shore-based infrastructure for storage, processing and marketing of fish; as well as provision of training in gear technology, processing and quality assurance, resource management and conservation of fisheries,” Haughton added.

The 20-year partnership between Japan and CARICOM culminated with a series of in-country seminars in six regional countries, which discussed national level interventions supported by Tokyo, with presentations on the successes as well as the challenges. Over the past 20 years, Caribbean countries have benefitted from the development and expansion of trade in fish and fishery products by CARICOM member states; the construction of port facilities for fishing boats, and fresh fish markets as well as training attachments of fisheries personnel in Japan.

Page 33

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Venezuela arrests PDVSA oil executive on corruption charges CARACAS - (Reuters) Venezuela has arrested state oil company PDVSA’s production boss for the oilheavy western part of the country on corruption charges, a week after arresting an oil ministry employee, reported to be his sister, on similar suspicions. Jose Luis Parada is suspected of “administrative irregularities in contracting companies for the distribution of gasoline,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Monday. The news follows last week’s arrest of oil minis-

try official Nubia Parada, in charge of overseeing the domestic fuel market, on suspicion of corruption. Local media have reported the two Paradas are siblings. Intelligence officials arrested Jose Luis Parada earlier on Monday at an a i r base in the Western state of Zulia near the Colombian border. He will be brought to court in the coming hours, the statement added. Jose Luis Parada previously ran PDVSA Servicios, which provides services to the company’s oilfields.

Officials at PDVSA, the oil ministry and the prosecutor’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The OPEC nation’s heavy fuel subsidy leaves gasoline costing just 2 cents at the strongest official exchange rate, spurring a lucrative smuggling business with neighboring Colombia. President Nicolas Maduro last month said Venezuela needs to raise fuel prices to limit losses to state coffers which have been estimated at around $12 billion per year.

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Balance favours batsmen – Richardson From page 39 de Villiers deserved praise for his amazing feat. But he also acknowledged the fact that mishits could sail over the boundary ropes effortlessly deserved inspection. “No one begrudges anAB de Villiers, who plays some superb shots,” he said. “Him, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, they are exceptionally talented and no one minds if they hit some great shots which go for six. But where some batsmen are mis-hitting balls and it is just carrying over the rope and going for a six instead of being caught at the boundary, that is what some cricket people believe has become unfair. “The bats are so good these days that the sweet spot is much larger than it would have been 10-15 years ago. The MCC, as law makers, and the ICC will be looking at giving perhaps some consideration to placing limitations on the depth of a bat in particular.” Richardson spoke on a wide array of hot topics, including increasing incidents of on-field misbehaviour of players; playing

conditions, such as use of two new balls at each end and the restriction of boundary fielders in ODI cricket; and the promotion of Ireland and Afghanistan into the ODI ranking table, which could allow them to make a direct entry into the ten-team 2019 World Cup. Asked if the ICC was not going against its own policy of spreading the game by shrinking the number of participating nations at the World Cup in four years’ time, Richardson argued that the premier event needed to be far more competitive. “It would if we were precluding the Associate Members from qualifying or finding a route directly to compete with the Full Members in bilateral cricket. But by creating that pathway it has enabled us to kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, it has expanded the opportunities for Associate Members to play at the highest level through bilateral series. Secondly, the World Cup itself, the premium event, without exception should be played between teams that are evenly

matched and competitive.” Alongside promoting Ireland and Afghanistan, the ICC Board also decided to put in place a promotion and relegation system, involving the lowestrankedAssociate team in the ODI rankings taking on the winner of the WCL Championship to decide which side will take their place in the full rankings table for the next cycle. Asked why the relegation rule could not be applied to the lowest-ranked Full Member, Richardson said it may be considered in due course. “It is a step by step process. The governance structure of the ICC is such that we have got Full Members and ODI members. The reason that they are Full Members is because they have a cricket economy as cricketplaying countries. There has been significant investment in those countries. So it makes sense to allow them to continue play each other bilaterally. Proper promotion and relegation [of Full Members] might be a step for the future, but at this stage it is too early to contemplate that.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Wednesday February 04, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may have let household tasks and chores go for a few days, Aries, so today you might decide to get them all done at once.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might decide to get some annoying but necessary chores done, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Some letters and calls that you may have agreed to do for a group you're affiliated with might have to be taken care of today, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

You may need to take care of paperwork related to financial matters today, Gemini. You will pay bills, make deposits, or balance checkbooks. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You should be especially efficient in whatever work you need to get done today, Cancer. Your natural eye for detail is especially sharp. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your dreams might be especially intense now, and some could even be prophetic. You may have recently dreamed of an old friend you haven't seen for a while. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Social events involving both old and new friends could prove especially satisfying at this time, Virgo. You will be able to catch up with those you haven't seen for a while.

Some information that you've been seeking for a long time might finally be unEarthed today through your diligent efforts, Scorpio. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Sagittarius, some volatile emotional matters that may have reared their heads over the past few days could finally be settled to the satisfaction of all involved. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Some solid, honest communication between you and those you love is likely to clearupsomeconfusion. Roles are more clearly defined, emotional problems clarified, and chores are more fairly allotted. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might feel the need to get as much done as possible. You're especially energetic, and you have stamina and focus, and so you should be able to accomplish whatever you want. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might need to do some of the less exciting chores involved with creative or artistic projects today, Pisces.

Page 35

Beckham still weighing options for Miami soccer stadium Reuters - More than a year after David Beckham swooped into Miami, the retired English soccer star has not secured a spot for his planned Major League Soccer team, but he and his partners are still searching, a spokesman said yesterday. “The Miami Beckham United team is actively looking at four or five sites,” Tadd Schwartz wrote in an emailed statement. Beckham’s group has remained mostly quiet since local officials last year rebuffed two attempts to secure land for a 25,000-seat bayfront arena in the city’s downtown. A first push last year to build the stadium on an empty tract on a small island mostly occupied by the port of Miami was fought by a maritime group led by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. A second effort to tuck it in between the NBA Miami Heat’s basketball arena and

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real...

From page 38 Mendes, who is reported to have brokered more than £1bn worth of transfers, has been described as the most powerful figure in the game. “People have the wrong idea about agents,” said Mendes. “Being an agent means many different things. I’m someone normal, I’m working hard every single day. I have ambitions, determination and being honest, doing the right things... this is most important.” He described football as the “most important sport in the world” and defended the wages players now command, saying they “deserve the maximum possible”. Mendes compared working with his players on contracts as “like a family”. “It is like when you talk with your son, with your family... always to try to find the best way to support them,” he said. Mendes also described the ban on third-party ownership of players as “illegal” and “catastrophic” for clubs. “FIFA and UEFA are not the police,” he said. “I think that’s it’s very important to establish rules, the right rules, but not to stop it.” Mendes, a former DJ and nightclub owner, also represents Jose Mourinho, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez, David De Gea, Victor Valdes and Diego Costa. (BBCsport)

David Beckham the city’s art museum also failed. “You can’t build a stadium overnight, so finding the right site, finding the right place in Miami is important for us. But

it will all start coming together pretty quickly and everything will start happening pretty soon,” Beckham told E! Online late last month. Miami-Dade County lawmakers are to hold a Tuesday vote to allow the county to open negotiations with Florida International University to use its American football arena as a temporary home for Beckham’s team in south Miami. “Right now, our focus is on identifying the location for a purpose-built stadium that will be the team’s permanent home,” Schwartz wrote. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has long emphasized the need for the club to have its own facility near downtown Miami. “If we can’t get the right stadium, we can’t go to Miami,” Garber told Reuters in October.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Why sport needs to be playful I’d like to make a case for sport. My argument ignores the usual theories - weight lost, arteries unclogged, endorphins released, friendships made, purpose gained, associations formed, communities knit together. All true enough. But my theme is different. My focus is the value of play, within sport and also in life. Because it is usually perceived as the opposite of serious, we tend to trivialise play. In fact, play needs to be taken much more seriously. I am making a deliberate distinction between merely “doing” sport and really “playing” sport. For it is possible to play sport unplayfully, joylessly going through the motions, merely acting out a prearranged plan, becoming a cog in a cold machine, becoming totally closed to instinct or mischief. Indeed, one of the ironies of the development of modern sport - both professional and, more depressingly, amateur is that it has become progressively less playful. There is, I think, a unique category of play, different and special: playful play. This is not, obviously, the exclusive preserve of sport it is also central to good conversation, intellectual life, music and scientific invention. In my personal experience, however, I feel a great debt to sport in particular. Perhaps unusually for a professional sportsman, I am reflective, analytical and

happy with long periods of solitude. Playing sport - really playing sport - was not only a counterpoint (and a pleasure). It has also been a catalyst. My experience is backed up by academic research. I recently read Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation by the scientists Patrick Bateson and Paul Martin. I recommend it to sports fans and sceptics alike. Much of the book is unconnected to sport. According to Bateson and Martin, play is “an evolved biological adaptation that enables the individual to escape from local optima and discover better solutions”. They use the example of a squirrel swinging on a branch merely playfully, which by accident enables it to reach nuts that were previously inaccessible. So the change in behaviour becomes a learned modification; an activity that was apparently without purpose becomes all too useful. That is how kids learn, too, the authors propose: more playful children become creative adults. The word “creative” has become a corporate cliché. Corporate life wants everyone to be creative, which is a bit like a coach wanting every batsman to score a hundred. Well, of course. But how? The link between creativity and playfulness is rarely accounted for. As the zoologist George

Bartholomew concluded: “Creativity often appears to be some complex function of play… The most profoundly creative humans of course never lose this.” Alexander Fleming, who created the penicillin vaccine, was described, disapprovingly, by his boss as treating research like a game. When asked what he did, Fleming replied, “I play with microbes… it is very pleasant to break the rules and to be able to find something that nobody had thought of.”

Paris (AFP) - Novak Djokovic is now 3,800 points clear at the top of the ATP world rankings following his Australian Open triumph on Sunday. The Serb is in clear water well ahead of secondplaced Roger Federer, who lost ground with a third-round exit in Melbourne. Big movers in the top 10 were Andy Murray whose run to the Australian Open final saw him move up two places to fourth with Milos Raonic also climbing two spots to sixth. They both moved past Stan Wawrinka, who failed to defend his title in Australia and dropped five places to ninth. ATP top 20 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13,045 points 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 9,245 3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5,745 4. Andy Murray (GBR) 5,515 (+2) 5. Kei Nishikori (JPN)

5,205 6. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4,845 (+2) 7. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4,660 8. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4,105 (+1) 9. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 4,090 (-5) 10. David Ferrer (ESP) 3,965 11. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 3,645 12. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,560 13. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 2,420 14. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 2,220 15. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 2,125 16. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 1,975 17. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 1,845 18. John Isner (USA) 1,765 (+3) 19. Gilles Simon (FRA) 1,730 (+1) 20. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 1,725 (-1)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a shot to Andy Murray of Britain during the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

- the only way to win, in the deepest sense, is to enjoy playing

Playfulness encourages creativity. What better reason do you need to play joyfully? © AFP In contrast, “the meeting” enforced boredom orchestrated by authority - is the most anti-playful invention known to man. Any event that is closed, bounded and explicitly humourless is almost certain to be uncreative. In calling a meeting, in the traditional sense, corporations increase the probability of not finding a solution. Thinking about play has encouraged me to rethink certain aspects of sport. When I was still a

Djokovic dominates world tennis rankings

professional player, I naturally revered high performance - the score on the board. Now, from the vantage point of retirement, I can see that the only way to “win” at sport, in the deepest sense, is also to enjoy it. I was fascinated while commentating with Sunil Gavaskar last summer to hear the master batsman say he enjoyed the second half of his career far more than the first. This from the man who scored 20 Test hundreds in his first 50 matches! A slight diminution in output was outweighed, from Gavaskar’s perspective, by a far more joyful approach to batting. When Tiger Woods was in his pomp, many of my colleagues used him as a model, perceiving him as the ultimate sportsman. But I was never so sure. Was it really so enviable, Woods’ life? To Woods, sport seemed to be about negating his humanity, ironing the play out of his game rather than embracing it. We might admire his iron willpower. But how many people would a Woods-style career really suit? Santi Cazorla, the impish and mischievous Spain and Arsenal midfielder, seems to have more fun in 90 minutes than Woods has in an entire season. For the apotheosis of unplayful sport, look no further than Lance Armstrong. Forget the cheating and the bullying for a moment. What could be more depressing than tweeting a photo of yourself sitting alone in suburban

luxury surrounded by (fraudulent) yellow jerseys? Were there no happy memories, in his mind rather than his camera, to soften the blow of disgrace? It is also possible for sportsmen, even within the fiercest battles, to cooperate in permitting an air of playfulness. You see this occasionally in tennis. Most of the time, of course, tactics are explicitly reductionist and selfinterested: doing what the opponent least wants. But occasionally a point develops that is different. Both players are constantly trying to win the point, but they also implicitly - and surely subconsciously - enter a different mode. A slice is followed by another slice (apparently inexplicably), a change of pace leads to another change of pace. In short, a conversation develops, something to be enjoyed and extended. And won. For I’m not interested in showmanship here, exhibition-style showing off or playing to the gallery. But there also are moments within proper combat when players are trying to do three things simultaneously - to win, to play (for the fun of it, selfishly) and also to encourage a similar mood on the other side of the net. It must be a rarefied, complete mode of living. In normal life there is a simpler reason to stay playful. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old,” George Bernard Shaw remarked, “we grow old because we stop playing.” (Ed Smith – ESPNcricinfo)

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 37

U.S. judge orders Don King to pay Cavs stumble to 11th straight win, 97-84 over scrappy Sixers $1.5 million over canceled title fight

Don King New York (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday ordered boxing promoter Don King to pay more than $1.5 million for breach of contract over a World Boxing Association cruiserweight championship bout that was canceled after one of his fighters failed a drug test.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in Manhattan decided on the award, plus accrued interest, in favor of Russian boxing promoters Andrey Ryabinskiy and Vladimir Hrunov, who do business as World of Boxing LLC. The Russian promoters had sought to recoup more than $1.86 million, including their costs to stage the fight. King, who Scheindlin had found liable for breach of contract last Oct. 1, claimed he should pay only about $635,000, including $536,000 held in escrow, court papers show. The case stemmed from the cancellation of the April 25, 2014, fight between Guillermo Jones and Denis Lebedev in Moscow, after Jones tested positive for the diuretic furosemide. King was not implicated in the failed test. He said damages should have been limited to the cost of ticket refunds, and exclude such items as rent, lodging and

transportation. But the judge disagreed, saying it was King’s burden to show that World of Boxing was not entitled to “reliance damages” from his breach of contract because the fight was doomed to be a financial failure. This lacks “common sense,” she said. “This was no small-time bout; it was the cruiserweight world title match,” Scheindlin wrote. Andrew Zinman, a lawyer for King, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Matthew Grant, a lawyer for World of Boxing, declined to comment. Jones had knocked out Lebedev in a May 2013 title fight, but was stripped of his title after failing another drug test, also for furosemide. The April 2014 fight was the scheduled rematch. The case is World of Boxing LLC et al v. King et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 1403791.

Nets score 15 points in 90 seconds, pull off wild comeback over the Clippers

Nets score 15 points in 90 seconds, pull off wild comeback over the Clippers With 1:35 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Nets were down 87-96 to the Los Angeles Clippers. But the Nets started a run when Alan Anderson hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, cutting the Clippers’ lead to six with just over 90 seconds remaining. On the other end, Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan scored to make it an eightpoint game again. Then, the Nets went crazy. Deron Williams trotted down the court and hit a pullup three-pointer to cut the lead to five. On the next possession, Blake Griffin missed two free throws, keeping the window open for the Nets. The Clippers fouled Joe Johnson

on the way back down the court. Johnson missed, the Nets tipped the miss back out to him, and he hit another three-pointer. Two-point game. Chris Paul missed a jumper on the other end, giving the Nets the ball back with 25 seconds to play. The Nets called a timeout and got Anderson a corner three-pointer. Anderson hit the shot and got fouled by Blake Griffin in the process. He went to the line and completed the four-point play, putting the Nets up by two. Chris Paul then hit a tough driving layup to tie the game with 8 seconds to play, ultimately a bad move because it gave the Nets another shot.

The Nets put the ball in point guard Jarrett Jack’s hands, and he took care of the rest: Paul accurately summed up the game, saying, “ We just lost it. I mean, not trying to take any credit away from what they did and the shots they made, but we gave the game away.” Though the free throws made the action pretty stopand-go, 15 points in 90 seconds is a crazy offensive pace. To put it into perspective, the Nets scored 32 points in the fourth quarter, giving them an offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) of 130.5 if they had played at that pace through a whole game. (Business Insider)

Cleveland (AP) - Now in double digits, the Cavaliers’ winning streak is both intact and impressive. Not to LeBron James. ‘’We haven’t done anything,’’ he said. ‘’We haven’t earned anything. Until we do something, then we can feel good about ourselves. But we haven’t done anything.’’ Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, James added 18 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland staggered to its 11th straight win, 97-84 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. The winning streak is Cleveland’s longest since reeling off 13 in a row a franchise record - in 2010, the last season of James’ first stint with the club. The Cavs had trouble putting away the young Sixers, who did all they could to stay close but don’t have the firepower to keep up with Irving, James and Co. With Atlanta’s 19-game winning streak ending in a 115-100 loss to New Orleans on Monday night, Cleveland is now the NBA’s hottest team. That doesn’t mean all that much to James. ‘’The title is the ultimate goal, but we haven’t played in a playoff series together,’’ he said. ‘’We haven’t played in one playoff game, one playoff minute that’s when it really counts. You build your habits and progress over the regular season. But for us, we’re a team we have a lot to make up and we can’t be complacent. As fast as you go on an 11-game winning streak, you can go on an 11-game losing streak.’’ Kevin Love added 15 rebounds and Matthew Dellavedova made three clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs, who led by 20 in the third, avoid an upset. Love did not attempt a

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on February 2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images) shot after the first quarter and finished with just five points on 1-of-7 shooting. He stayed on the floor more than an hour after the game with two Cavs assistant coaches working on his shot. Jerami Grant and Robert Covington scored 18 apiece for the Sixers, who beat the Cavs last month when Cleveland was in disarray. The Cavs’ biggest opponent may have been boredom as they played listlessly for long stretches against a young, but less talented team. Cleveland built its 20-point lead in the third quarter, but the Sixers wouldn’t go away and pulled to 69-67 early in the fourth. Irving briefly restored order with a pair of 3-pointers, but the Sixers rallied again

and closed to 80-77 on Covington’s 3. Irving, selected Eastern Conference player of the week earlier in the day, then scored six of Cleveland’s next eight points and Dellavedova dropped his second 3 of the period, giving the Cavs a 91-83 lead with 2:36 left. Unlike James, Irving feels a greater sense of accomplishment as the Cavs string wins together. ‘’We take a lot of pride in it,’’ he said. ‘’Obviously, you don’t want it to end and winning feels great and we want to continue with it. We don’t want to be content with where we are, not be complacent, and just work hard and do the things we need to do in order for us to continue this win streak.’’

LPGA phenom becomes youngest World No. 1 in history

Lydia Ko of New Zealand

Lydia Ko officially ascended to No. 1 in Monday’s release of the newest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, becoming the youngest player in golf history to reach the top spot. With her tie for second Saturday at the Coates Golf Championship, the 17-year-old barely overtook Inbee Park, ending Park’s most recent 14-week reign at No. 1. Ko is just three hundredths of a point in front of Park, who overall has spent 73 weeks atop the world rankings.

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 04, 2015

McLaren make F1 testing Ferrari fast improving breakthrough on day three in Jerez with new F1 car

Fernando Alonso in his McLaren Fernando Alonso described McLaren’s performance on day three of pre-season testing as a “big step forward”. The double world champion was hampered by an engine water leak after 32 laps but the team finally put some mileage on their new Honda-powered car. Sauber’s Felipe Nasr set the fastest time, as world champions Mercedes and Red Bull also suffered engine problems. McLaren had been in desperate need of some track time in Jerez in order to put the new MP4-30 through its paces. Until yesterday, they had managed just 17 laps over four days of testing, spread over a post-season outing in Abu Dhabi in November and the first two days in Jerez. Alonso’s fastest time was set in damp conditions before the track dried out, so the fact that it was 12 seconds off the fastest of the day was irrelevant. When he was on the circuit, he spent some time close to Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes and was not far off its pace. “For what it’s worth, the MP4-30 looked well

balanced during a 10-lap run late-morning,” said BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Tom Clarkson. “On a damp track, it didn’t lose much to Rosberg.” The water leak forced Alonso to abort a run early in the afternoon, ending McLaren’s action for the day. But the team are confident any broken components can be replaced in time for today’s final day of testing. Rosberg’s day was temporarily halted by an engine shutdown but the team had the German back out again within an hour. He ended up completing 151 laps, to add to the 157 he did on day one and the 91 logged by Lewis Hamilton on day two. Kimi Raikkonen had his first experience of the Ferrari after team-mate Sebastian Vettel spent the first two days out on the track. The German set the fastest time on the opening two days. Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, was quick throughout yesterday and set the pace in the morning session. He ended up second fastest at the end of the day. Daniel Ricciardo managed

only five laps in the Red Bull during the morning before engine problems forced a lengthy spell in the pits. But he returned to the track in the afternoon, ending up seventh fastest, behind the Williams of Felipe Massa, the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado and Toro Rosso novice Carlos Sainz Jr. Alonso was slowest of all. Headline times in pre-season testing are notoriously unreliable indicators of form as it is impossible to know the specification in which the teams are running their cars. Fastest lap times, day three of first pre-season test in Jerez 1 Felipe Nasr (Brz) SauberFerrari 1:21.545 2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:21.750 3 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:21.982 4 Felipe Massa (Brz) Williams-Mercedes 1:22.276 5 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Lotus-Mercedes 1:22.713 6 Carlos Sainz Jr (Spa) Toro Rosso-Renault 1:23.187 7 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:23.901 8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Honda 1:35.553 (BBCsport)

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid star ‘worth at least £300m’

Cristiano Ronaldo would sell for £300m if Real Madrid decided to let him leave tomorrow, the Portuguese superstar’s agent has told BBC Sport. Jorge Mendes said the 29-year-old forward was the “best player ever” and the “best sportsman ever”. Mendes added: “You can’t compare him with anybody else.” Ronaldo was voted the world’s best player for a third time last month, beating Barcelona rival Lionel Messi to the prestigious award. Asked how much he was worth, Mendes said: “Cristano Ronaldo? One billion. His buyout clause one billion, so it is one billion.

Mendes oversaw Ronaldo’s move from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United for £12.24m in 2003 “If, for any reason, the club decide to sell him tomorrow for 300 million, someone will pay.” However, Mendes insisted his countryman, who cost Real Madrid a world record fee of £80m in 2009,

would stay at the Bernabeu, despite his “love” for supporters of former club Manchester United. “He will not leave Real Madrid,” Mendes told BBC sports editor Dan Roan. Continued on page 35

Ferrari Formula One racing driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland drives his car during pre-season testing at the Jerez racetrack in southern Spain yesterday. Credit: Reuters/Marcelo del Pozo Reuters - Ferrari have made improvements in all areas and their new Formula One car is a “completely different story” to the one that drew a dismal blank on the track last year, Kimi Raikkonen said yesterday. “The whole package is quite a bit better from where we finished last year. We’ve improved in all the areas,” said the 2007 world champion after his first day of testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain. “We have a lot of things to do and things to improve, but it’s definitely a positive start and we have something to work with.” Ferrari failed to win a grand prix last year for the first time since 1993 and Raikkonen endured his worst season in the sport, finishing 12th

overall and without a single podium appearance. The team had three team principals last season in a major shake-up, with the most recent Maurizio Arrivabene arriving in November. He has set a minimum target of two wins in 2015. Germany’s four times world champion Sebastian Vettel has arrived to replace departed Spaniard Fernando Alonso and lapped fastest in the first two days of testing, although times are less important at this stage than mileage covered. Raikkonen, who did 92 laps equal to 407km yesterday, ended the day second fastest behind Brazilian rookie Felipe Nasr in the Ferrari-powered Sauber. “You usually know if a car is good or not, and this year

is a completely different story than last year as I had a good feeling straight away when I went out,” said Raikkonen. While Mercedes again completed the most laps, with Nico Rosberg doing 151 at the wheel on Tuesday, Ferrari’s improved performance has been noted by their rivals. “We are keeping an eye on the opposition, especially Ferrari has been an eyeopener in the last couple of days,” said the German. Australian Daniel Ricciardo, Vettel’s team mate last year at Red Bull, agreed. “The time Seb did yesterday was quick,” he told reporters. “I don’t know about fuel and tyres or whatever, but it was a good time. Ferrari looks good for now.” The season starts in Australia on March 15.

Carl Froch vacates IBF world title & plans Vegas or Nottingham bout

Carl Froch has vacated his IBF super-middleweight belt as he recovers from an elbow injury. Fellow Briton James DeGale, 29, who was the mandatory challenger, will now fight for the vacant title. Froch, 37, wants to defend his WBA super-middleweight title this summer. Talks have taken place over a potential bout against Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez Junior in Las Vegas, or twoweight world champion Bernard Hopkins, 50, in Froch’s home city of Nottingham. Froch told BBC Radio 5 live a fight in Vegas or at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground would be motivation to continue his career, although he has not ruled out retirement. “Something needs to happen soon because if it doesn’t, I will be retiring,” added the boxer, who has won 33 of his 35 fights. The four-time world champion said he felt frustrated at having to pull out of a fight with Chavez which was originally

Carl Froch of Britain celebrates with the championship belt after defeating compatriot George Groves in their WBA and IBF Super Middleweight World Championship title fight at Wembley Arena in London in this file photo taken on May 31, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Eddie Keogh scheduled for March. “I know what it’s like to wait for a shot and I didn’t want to hold James up in fighting for a world title,” he said. “James is a great fighter and I hope he can go out and win that title. Who knows... we may even meet later in the year.” DeGale earned the right to face Froch after beating Brandon Gonzalez on the undercard of Froch’s

Wembley fight against George Groves in May 2014. Promoter Eddie Hearn is in negotiations for Degale to fight American Andre Dirrell for the IBF title and hopes the clash can take place on 25 April at London’s O2 Arena. “I’m making history,” said DeGale. “I’m going to be the first British Olympic gold medallist to win a world title.” (BBCsport)

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Williams upbeat over Williamson, Taylor power Roach, Bravo return New Zealand to massive win

Kemar Roach Sydney, Australia -West Indies coach Stuart Williams has welcomed the return of pacer Kemar Roach and middle order batsman Darren Bravo to the regional side preparing for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starting later this month. Roach was forced to withdraw from the West Indies side during the series in South Africa due to an ankle injury while Bravo opted out of the tour for personal reasons. The two players are now in Sydney with the rest of the team which suffered tests and One Day International series defeat against South Africa but prevailed in the T20 series. “Kemar Roach had left the

Darren Bravo

series in South Africa with an ankle injury and he looked refresh and rearing to go, Darren bravo came out of the NAGICO series and he has some cricket under his belt,” said Williams. “So these couple of games, these warm-up games against England and Scotland is very important especially to a guy like Kemar Roach…to see what he has in his tank”. West Indies play warm-up matches against England on Monday and Scotland next week Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The former champions will start their World Cup campaign with a game against Ireland on the 5th of March. “Looking from the South African series, these two

guys I hope they bring a different field to the whole team, maybe the spark that we needed in the world cup,” said Williams. “The guys are looking upbeat and I saw some passion in the past couple of days so they are rearing to go”. West Indies have been focusing on specific areas during their training such as power play overs, middle overs, batting and bowling. “Basically we have a couple of days to deal with specifics,” said Williams. “Obviously we have our general batting and bowling meetings and on the ground we are going to deal with specifics. Power play overs, middle overs, batting and bowling”. (CMC)

ropes are to be pulled as far back as 90 yards. “The balance may have shifted a little bit too much because sometimes poor shots or mis-hits are going for six,” Richardson told ESPNcricinfo in an extensive interview. “Let us try and rectify that. What we have done up until now is try and maximize the size of the boundary. You will see for the World Cup, most of the grounds in Australia in particular, which allow for big playing surfaces, boundary ropes will be pushed back to at least 90 yards where possible.” Modern-day cricketers make statements with their bats. They have more bulge at the back, the edges are chunky (as thick as two inches), the whole bat is a sweet spot and it can send the ball much higher, much faster and much farther than once imagined. As the same time, in the name of entertainment, administrators have given consent to shorter

boundaries at most venues thereby further hurting the case of the bowler. However, the MCC’s World Cricket Committee, at its last meeting in July, decided against making changes to the law governing bat dimensions. The panel, comprising eminent former cricketers and captains, failed to find a consensus and it was decided to retain the current ruling on the size of bats, contained in Appendix E of the Laws of Cricket, which only limits the length of the bat to 38 inches and the width to 4¼ inches. Such leniency has led to long-standing batting records being shattered. Last month, South Africa’s ODI captain, AB de Villiers, hit the fastest ODI century in 31 balls and 40 minutes, erasing the previous record set by New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson less than a year ago, which had come off 36 deliveries. According to Richardson, Continued on page 35

Balance favours batsmen – Richardson

David Richardson David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, has conceded that modern bats have “shifted the balance” in favour of batsmen, especially in limited-overs cricket. The issue, Richardson said, was a growing concern and the ICC has begun to consider remedial steps, the first of which will come during the World Cup where boundary

On a perfect batting strip at McLean Park, centuries from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor powered New Zealand to 369, a total that proved well out of Pakistan’s reach despite the platform laid by their openers. The asking rate kept climbing on Pakistan, and their middle and lower order fell away to give New Zealand a 115-run win with close to seven overs left to play. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez put on 111 for the first wicket, and while their scoring rate was below the required rate, they set Pakistan up for an all-ornothing effort in the last 20 overs. At the 30-over mark, they were two down and needed 203 with Hafeez still at the crease on 80. Pakistan took the batting Powerplay at that point, and Hafeez swung the first ball from Grant Elliott over the square leg boundary. Looking for a repeat the next ball, however, he holed out off a slower ball. In came Shahid Afridi, promoted up the order, but he fell for 11 and Umar Akmal followed in the next over. There could only be one result thereafter. Batting first after winning the toss, Brendon McCullum provided the innings thrust at the start, and Martin Guptill and Williamson kept that momentum going with a 128run second-wicket stand before Taylor added the final flourish. New Zealand scored 116 in their last 10 overs, during which time Taylor smashed 73 in 36 balls. After swinging in vain at a couple of slower full-tosses outside off from Bilawal Bhatti in the final over, Taylor was on 92 with two balls remaining. He sent the penultimate ball of the innings soaring into the crowd beyond deep extra cover, and finished with a thick outside edge to the third man boundary. Taylor ’s unbeaten 102 was New Zealand’s 100th ODI century. While Taylor’s innings included plenty of his trademark clubs over the leg side, Williamson’s was full of nimble footwork and pretty strokes. For all that, it was no less brutal in its pace, and his century came up in 80 balls. Guptill looked on course for a hundred as well, and was distraught after getting himself out, launching a fulltoss from the part-time legspinner Ahmed Shehzad straight into long-off’s hands. That fortuitous wicket apart, the bowlers who made

Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson added 79 for the third wicket ©Getty Images up Pakistan’s fifth-bowler quota - a problem they are likely to grapple with right through the World Cup if Mohammad Hafeez doesn’t clear the tests on his bowling action - conceded 93 runs in 12 overs. That they bowled that many overs was down to the fact that two of their frontline seamers, Bilawal Bhatti and Ehsan Adil, gave away more than eight an over. With Junaid Khan out of the World Cup, neither Bhatti nor Adil made any sort of case for their inclusion as his replacement. Taking one of the two new balls, Bhatti went for 21 in his first two overs, bowling either too short or too full and conceding three fours and a six to McCullum. At the other end, Mohammad Irfan was bowling a tight line and generating plenty of bounce to keep the openers relatively quiet. Bhatti’s profligacy forced Pakistan to bring on Shahid Afridi as early as the sixth over, and he made the breakthrough in his second over, forcing McCullum to chop on while playing one cut shot too many. Afridi would have dismissed McCullum in his first over had Sarfraz Ahmed not muffed up a stumping. Later, in the 38th over of New Zealand’s innings, Sarfraz missed another stumping off Afridi, when Taylor was on 25. In between, Williamson and Guptill had put on a century stand at

comfortably over a run-a-ball, without needing to play any outlandish shots. Pakistan’s bowlers - Irfan and Afridi apart - were giving them plenty of freebies, and the ball was coming on so well that Guptill could merely take a step forward and play pickup shots over the midwicket region and Williamson could skip down the track and chip the seamers over wide midoff. At the 30-over mark, New Zealand were 181 for 2. Doubling this, by the old logic of 50-over cricket, would give them 360, and this is precisely what they achieved. Williamson waltzed past his hundred and fell in the fourth over of the batting Powerplay, trying to scoop Irfan over short fine leg but not quite managing the adequate elevation. If Pakistan thought they could apply the brakes at that point, they were wrong. Grant Elliott and Taylor swatted Bhatti for sixes in the 43rd over, Taylor’s clearing the stadium roof. Bhatti went for 21 in his next over, the biggest of the innings, with Taylor smacking him for three fours and a six, two of those shots coming off full-tosses. Elliott holed out to Adil soon after, but Taylor carried on swinging, and dented Irfan’s figures with three successive fours at the start of his final over. Till that point, he had given away 37 runs in nine overs. (ESPNcricinfo)

Page 40

Kaieteur News

NEE launches second Mackeson Mash Futsal Tournament New Era Entertainment (NEE) yesterday launched its second annual Mackeson Mashramani Futsal Tournament, stating that in only the second year of the competition, they are declaring a growth in public interest and prize monies offered to teams. “We had 12 teams competing last year and we have 16 teams this year. We have stepped up with our prize monies too; we gave the first place winner $200,000 last year but this year we’re giving $300,000,” NEE Director, Aubrey Major Jr. said at the launch. The NEE second Mackeson Mashramani Futsal Tournament kicks off

Friday night from 7pm and will run until February 21 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Court, Linden. The winning team will get $300,000 while the runner-up pockets $100,000. The third place team gets $75,000 in the tournament with $25,000 set aside for the fourth placed team. Major also indicated yesterday that the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a pair of Futsal sneakers and a trophy. Mackeson Brand Coordinator at Ansa McAl, the distributors of the stout locally, Jamaal Douglas reiterated the company’s commitment toward the development of sport in

Guyana and continued efforts to bring communities together through sport. “We’re happy to be doing this tournament again as we continue to invest in sport and community development, especially in Linden,” Douglas said, adding that last year was a success and he will be anticipating an improved response at the event this year. Another NEE Director, Winston Fraser, who chaired the proceedings, indicated that the response last year prompted them to usher in a second edition; “The people and teams are asking for it,” he said, adding “the whole of Linden wants to see this tournament”.

Team Fullworks favoured to win GMR&SC Endurance Race / Fun Day Meet The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will open its season with the staging of an Endurance and Fun Day on February 8, at the South Dakota Circuit. According to an official from the GMR&SC, the day’s activities will include a two-hour Endurance Race, Dexterity and Reverse races and a Time

Attack. Among the teams expected to participate in the day’s activities are Te a m R a m c h a n d a n d Fullworks and word from both camps seem to indicate that they are hard at work preparing their machines to throw down the gauntlet on each other. Team Ramchand and

Fullworks are amongst the top teams in Endurance Racing in Guyana and are expected to dominate the day’s proceedings on Sunday. The official added that competitors will be asked to pay $2000 to enter the competition and admission for spectators is $500. Starting time is 11:00 hrs.

129th IFAB AGM agenda confirmed The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) has confirmed the agenda for its 129th annual general meeting (AGM) set to take place at the Culloden Hotel in Craigavad, near Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast, on Saturday February 28. The meeting will be chaired by Jim Shaw, President of the Irish Football Association. It follows on from the inaugural meetings of two new advisory panels – a Technical Panel and a Football Panel – which convened in November 2014 in conjunction with The IFAB annual business meeting (ABM) held in Belfast.

At this year’s AGM, a decision is expected to be taken on a proposal presented to The IFAB by FIFA on behalf of its member associations and confederations to amend Law 3 of the Laws of the Game to allow a fourth substitution in extra time. Also up for decision in relation to Law 3 is a proposal to allow for greater flexibility in the use of substitutions in grassroots/recreational football, after successful experiments were conducted by The FA and the Scottish FA. Furthermore, a decision is expected to be taken by The IFAB on the so-called “triple punishment” (Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct, Sending-off

Pride name squad for Hurricanes clash Bridgetown, Barbados - Title holders Barbados Pride has named the squad for the fifth round WICB Professional Cricket League first-class match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Kensington Oval, starting on Friday. Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Tino Best, Carlos Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Kyle Corbin, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Kirk Edwards, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Kevin Stoute, Jomel Warrican. Management and technical staff: Henderson Springer (Coach), Dexter Toppin (Assistant Coach), Hartley Reid (Manager), Jacqueline King (Physiotherapist), Rodney Ashby (Video Analyst), Shannon Lashley (Trainer). (BCA)

offences) with a proposal from UEFA to be reviewed, as well as the use of electronic performance and tracking systems. Other items on the agenda to be discussed but not decided on include “sin bins” in recreational youth football, Law 12 with regard to handling the ball, stopping of the official match time and the potential use of video replays to support match officials. As part of the deliberations, The IFAB will go over feedback provided by the two new advisory panels, which were established to support the board with greater expertise before decisions are passed. The panels consist of representatives from across the world of football and meet twice a year to discuss topical matters related to the Laws of the Game. Ahead of this year’s AGM, a deadline of December 1, 2014 was given to members of The IFAB or any of FIFA’s member associations to submit suggestions or proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game, requests for experimentation, and any other items for discussion to The IFAB. (FIFA)

Wednesday February 04, 2015

Honduras prepare for Venezuela

Oscar Boniek Garcia (white jersey) was called up for Honduras’ February 4, 2015, friendly against Venezuela. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images) San Pedro Sula, Honduras – In preparation for an international friendly today against visiting Venezuela, Honduras head coach Jorge Luis Pinto opened a camp Monday with 22 members of his 23-player roster. With the exception of Sporting Kansas City’s Jorge Claros, the entire squad gathered at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, the site of Wednesday’s encounter. The selection includes defender Johnny Leveron and midfielder Arnold Peralta, who signed recently with domestic sides Marathon and Olimpia, respectively, after spells abroad. It will be the Catrachos’ first game under the

leadership of Pinto as he looks ahead to next month’s two-leg CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification playoff against French Guiana. The 61-year-old Colombian also convened a three-day camp last week, his first since being named as Hernan Medford’s replacement in December. HONDURAS ROSTER (International friendly: February 4, 2015, home v Venezuela) GOALKEEPERS: Donis Escober (Olimpia), Noel Valladares (Olimpia). DEFENDERS: Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Johnny Leveron (Marathon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua), Carlos Palacios (Marathon),

Carlos Sanchez (Real España), Jose David Velasquez (Nacional/ Uruguay) MIDFIELDERS: Bryan Acosta (Real España), Jorge Cardona (Honduras Progreso), Jorge Claros (Sporting Kansas City/USA), Edder Delgado (Real España), Carlos Discua (Motagua), Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo/USA), Mario Martínez (Real España), Byron Méndez (Olimpia), Arnold Peralta (Olimpia). FORWARDS: Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Antony Lozano (Olimpia), Romell Quioto (Olimpia), Angel Tejeda (Honduras Progreso). (CONCACAF)

England women’s record scorer Smith bows out

Kelly Smith England women’s record goalscorer Kelly Smith announced that she has retired from international football. The 36-year-old Arsenal Ladies striker scored 46 times in 117 games for England and played at two FIFA Women’s World Cups and four European Championships, as

well as representing hosts Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London. “After a lot of consideration and many conversations, I have made the toughest decision of my career to retire from international football,” said Smith, who will continue playing for Arsenal, in a

statement. “I feel exceptionally proud and honoured to have played for England for 20 wonderful years. I have enjoyed every single minute of representing my country and wearing the England shirt. The memories will stay with me all my life.” (FIFA)